We Are All City Makers
The Imagine Cities White Paper
Synopsis
Cities are rapidly growing and becoming increasingly important centres of global activity. This growth brings both opportunities and challenges, including intense competition between cities. Success in the 21st century city hinges on attracting and retaining talent, which requires a focus on both economic opportunity and quality of life, starting at the neighbourhood level. Neighbourhoods are the building blocks of great cities, and their health is inextricably linked to the city’s overall success.
Cities are complex, dynamic systems that require data-driven decision-making. Just as businesses and healthcare providers rely on data, cities need access to quality information to understand urban dynamics, optimize resources, and adapt to change. Technology plays a crucial role in this data-driven approach, providing real-time insights into urban life. City indexes are also becoming increasingly important tools for benchmarking performance and attracting investment.
The rise of mid-sized cities presents both a challenge and an opportunity, as they attract talent and investment away from larger, more expensive megacities. Collaboration between governments, non-profits, businesses, and neighbourhoods is essential for navigating this complex landscape. Empowering neighbourhoods with the resources and tools they need is crucial, as they are often left behind in the race to adapt. Ultimately, we are all city makers, and our collective actions shape the future of our urban environments.
Full text
We live in a world increasingly defined by the performance of cities. More than half of us already call them home, and by 2050, that number is projected to skyrocket to two-thirds — a staggering 6.8 billion people. Cities aren’t just collections of buildings; they’re the vibrant hearts of global markets, centers of innovation, and crucibles of culture. They’re so influential that some, like Singapore, even operate outside traditional national jurisdictions. The World Bank estimates that a whopping 80% of global economic activity happens in cities, a figure only expected to grow.
The Competitive Edge: It’s All About Talent
What makes a city thrive? Opportunity. Economists like Enrico Moretti have shown that innovation breeds jobs — for every tech-savvy graduate employed, five more jobs are created in other sectors. Harvard’s Edward Glaeser famously argued that the key is attracting and retaining “smart people” and then letting them flourish. Cities that do this become magnets for successful businesses. A 2009 study confirmed this, highlighting that graduates gravitate towards cities offering both economic opportunity and a desirable lifestyle. These two factors are intertwined: businesses follow talent, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.
Neighbourhoods: The Building Blocks of Great Cities
But great cities aren’t built overnight. They grow from the ground up, starting with their neighbourhoods. Public spaces, efficient transit, thriving local businesses — these are the things that make a city truly great, and they all happen at the neighbourhood level. As Shirley Franklin and David Edwards put it, “The health of a city is inextricably linked to the health of its neighbourhoods.” Raj Chetty’s research further underscores this point, demonstrating the profound impact of neighborhood quality on everything from college attendance to future earnings and family stability.
Navigating Complexity: Cities as Living Systems
Cities aren’t machines; they’re complex, ever-evolving ecosystems. Like our bodies reacting to a virus, cities respond to external forces in unpredictable ways. Self-driving cars, new housing policies — these can trigger chain reactions with both visible and invisible consequences. Just as doctors study our biological systems, “city makers” need to understand these complex urban dynamics to make informed decisions.
Data: The New Urban Gold
In today’s rapidly changing world, data is king. Just look at the corporate world: companies live and die by their ability to leverage data for insights and competitive advantage. The downfall of Nokia, once a mobile phone giant, illustrates the consequences of failing to adapt. Similarly, the medical field’s transformation through data-driven research highlights the power of evidence-based decision-making. Cities, like companies and healthcare providers, need access to quality data to thrive.
This “new age of scientific urbanism,” inspired by thinkers like Jane Jacobs, allows us to understand the impact of everything from green spaces on mental health to commute times on physical well-being. And it’s all powered by data.
Technology: Feuling the Urban Revolution
The rise of technology is inextricably linked to this new urban era. South Korea’s “ubiquitous cities” program, with its billions of connected devices, is a prime example. From smart meters to sensor-equipped streetlights, this data deluge provides real-time insights into urban life, empowering decision-makers to optimize resources and improve outcomes. Imagine tracking garbage through a city’s waste management system to identify inefficiencies, as MIT’s Senseable City Lab did in Seattle. This kind of data-driven approach can revolutionize everything from waste management to transportation.
Investing in the Future: The Power of Indexes
The availability of vast datasets has led to the development of city indexes, like MIT’s Global Mobility Index and the City Observatory’s Storefront Index. These tools allow cities to benchmark their performance and identify areas for improvement to and attract talent business investment. Just as companies use data to assess risk and opportunity, investors are increasingly relying on city indexes to make informed decisions.
The Rise of the Mid-Sized City
As talent and investment flow away from expensive megacities, mid-sized cities are experiencing a renaissance. Places like Pittsburgh and Waterloo are attracting young professionals and businesses by offering a better quality of life and making strategic investments in key industries. This trend is forcing even the largest cities to rethink their strategies, investing in housing, amenities, and social support to retain their talent pool.
Collaboration: The Key to Urban Success
In today’s complex urban landscape, collaboration is essential. Governments, non-profits, businesses, and neighbourhood leaders must work together to address the challenges facing cities. The success stories of cities like Salt Lake City and Portland, with their thriving light rail systems, demonstrate the power of partnership. Conversely, cities that fail to embrace collaboration risk falling behind.
Neighbourhoods at the Forefront: The Fernwood Story
The transformation of Fernwood, a struggling neighbourhood in Victoria, British Columbia, is a testament to the power of neighbourhood-led change. Through strategic partnerships and neighbourhood engagement, Fernwood transformed itself from a blighted area into a thriving hub. This kind of grassroots revitalization highlights the crucial role of neighbourhoods in building great cities.
The Data-Driven Future: Transparency and Accountability
As data becomes more readily available, cities will be held accountable for their performance. No more hiding behind rhetoric — the data will reveal the truth about affordability, talent, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. This transparency will empower neighbourhoods to demand progress and hold their leaders accountable.
Neighborhoods at the Forefront: The Fernwood Story
The transformation of Fernwood, a struggling neighbourhood in Victoria, British Columbia, is a testament to the power of neighbourhood-led change. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, Fernwood transformed itself from a blighted area into a thriving hub. This kind of grassroots revitalization highlights the crucial role of neighbourhoods in building great cities.
The Data-Driven Future: Transparency and Accountability
As data becomes more readily available, cities will be held accountable for their performance. No more hiding behind rhetoric — the data will reveal the truth about affordability, talent, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. This transparency will empower neighborhoods to demand progress and hold their leaders accountable.
Adapting to a VUCA World
We live in a VUCA world — volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Change is constant, and cities must be adaptable to survive. This requires not just scientists and engineers, but a community of creative problem-solvers across all sectors of society. As Yuval Harari argues, human progress is driven by our ability to cooperate on a large scale. In this new era of disruption, our collective ingenuity will be our greatest asset.
Empowering Neighbourhoods: The Missing Piece
While businesses and governments are investing in their capacity to adapt, neighbourhoods are often left behind. Raghuram Rajan, in his book The Third Pillar, argues that this neglect will have significant consequences. We need to empower neighbourhoods with the resources and tools they need to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.
Imagine Cities: Building a Better Urban Future
Imagine Cities is dedicated to empowering neighbourhoods and fostering collaboration to create stronger, more resilient cities. Through our platform, we provide access to research, skills & tools, leadership training, and an innovation lab to support neighbourhood-led change.
We Are All City Makers
Whether we realize it or not, we are all city makers. The choices and actions we take, whether being kind to your neighbour or volunteering with your neighbourhood organization, contribute to the quality of our neighbourhoods and the vibrancy of our cities.
Join us and be part of building a better urban future.
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one… I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can… Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”-George Bernard Shaw
