Look out, Silicon Valley. Read the report from Brookings here, which notes the success Rust Belt cities have had in attracting skilled immigrants. The report notes:.. Read On 

In Tel Aviv, people may move to the suburbs for a variety of reasons - the impossibility of finding parking in the city and the high housing prices are two popular complaints - but not school quality... Read On 

I talk to people all the time about attracting families to want to live in the urban core, and always they bring up the same barrier: school quality. There's no doubt that far too many urban school systems perform abysmally and that quality of schools can be a huge factor for families deciding where to live... Read On 

After 43 years, the Cleveland Food Co-op, the only grocery store in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, has closed its doors. While the Plain Dealer coverage blames the Co-op's seemingly shaky business model, it misses the point: "After 43 years, the Cleveland Food Co-op... Read On 

Barter markets -- where people bring stuff they don't want and exchange it for stuff that other people don't want -- are like urban sustainability Swiss Army knives. It's amazing how many things they can do... Read On 

The topic was sustainability. It shouldn't be a wonky topic. It is juicy, sexy, lush green and exciting. Its problem is six syllables. Smart growth has two and that's the same thing, so let's talk smart... Read On 

The neighborhood you live in can have a huge effect on your ability to spend or save, do the kind of things you really want to, and navigate the ongoing economic crisis. The chart below, from a new report by The House Democratic Livable Communities Task Force (via Grist) shows the real financial consequences for American families that stem from living in three different kinds of neighborhoods... Read On 

Affordable housing, transportation options, pedestrian mobility, and easy-to-access jobs are key drivers of sustainable urban development. If these forces combine to create a regional approach to urban development, they can have powerful results, argued panelists at the National Building Museum's Intelligent Cities forum... Read On