Next City provides a case study in the urbanization of suburbs—in this case the result of a large influx of Chinese immigrants.
Oscar Perry Abello examines Montville, Connecticut as an example of communities "grappling with the increasing urbanization of suburbs."
In the case of Montville, the 2001 development of the Mohegan Sun Casino quickly paved the way for an influx of Chinese clientele and employees. The Chinese labor force, according to the article, has been especially influential on the character of the community: "Accustomed to the far more dense and walkable communities in more traditional Chinatowns in the U.S. (as well as in China), these recent and long-term immigrant workers are challenging what life can look like in what might otherwise be considered a suburb."
More specifically, the 20 percent of the casino workforce of Asian descent has "'crowded' into the existing suburban housing stock near the casino — mostly detached single-family homes with large open floor plans." Those residents have adapted those homes to "increase capacity beyond the number of existing bedrooms."
For more on this particular case study, the city is the subject of a new exhibit at the Museum of Chinese in America, located in New York's Chinatown, titled "SubUrbanisms: Casino Urbanization, Chinatowns and the Contested American Landscape." Abello also describes the exhibit, especially its goal of changing perceptions about the immigrant population in the city.
FULL STORY: There’s an Urban Experiment Happening in Suburban Connecticut
The 2010s Didn't Live Up to Potential as the 'Decade of the City'
The renaissance predicted for urban areas in the United States started strong during the 2010s but slowed in the years leading up to a potentially generation defining pandemic.
Immigration and Urban Growth
After growing in the first half of the decade, some cities might be losing population. Is this because of the pace of immigration has slowed?
New Report Contradicts the U.N.: More Like 84 Percent of the World Lives in Urban Areas
"Everything we've heard about global urbanization turns out to be wrong."
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service