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As Mumbai, India's financial capital, witnessed vertical growth over the years with highrises dotting its skyline, some 'gaothans' (villages) have held onto their heritage and legacy. Ranwar, in the heart of Bandra, is one such village that has resisted the urge to make way for towering structures. Dwarfed by highrises, the East Indian-majority village has narrow streets lined with old quaint bungalows and crosses outside homes. With jazz music streaming in the air, walking around the area can transport you to a simpler time. While Bandra developed rapidly and became home to Bollywood's elite and a burgeoning street shopping hub, residents of Ranwar maintained their old bungalows. The coexistence, however, has come at a price, causing traffic issues and crowding. And now, plans are afoot to give the 300-year-old village a facelift while preserving the past. Talking to PTI, <keyword id="23283968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Johan-Dharmai" source="Orion">Johan Dharmai</keyword>, BJP secretary and a member of the East Indian community, said, "Locals want to preserve the heritage. One of the steps in the facelift plan is to close vehicle movement and build a walkway so that tourists can take a stroll and enjoy the architecture." Though many houses in Ranwar are now being redeveloped, Veronica Street has maintained its old-world charm. It has a square erected in 1866. However, honking rents the air on this street, as motorists see it as a shortcut to Bandra Reclamation and other areas. Mehboob Studio is just a stone's throw away, and senior citizens living on Veronica Street recall seeing actors Helen and Zeenat Aman around Ranwar. A beautification, restoration and conservation project is being initiated to improve safety, regulate traffic and create awareness about the centuries-old village. Mumbai BJP president and <keyword id="20238930" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bandra-West" source="keywords">Bandra West</keyword> MLA Ashish Shelar recently met locals to discuss ways to move the project forward. "The beauty of Bandra West is its 'gaothans'. The heritage needs to be protected and showcased. I have asked the government to allocate funds from the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC). <keyword id="23283965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranwar-Village" source="keywords">Ranwar village</keyword> will get a facelift. The work has begun on roads, CCTV cameras, street light illumination, parking and traffic plan will be in place with the help of locals and architects," Shelar told PTI. <keyword id="23283967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Architect-Samir-DMonte" source="keywords">Architect Samir D'Monte</keyword> has been working with the Ranwar Veronica Street Residents' Association since 2009, and they identified a range of problems that the area faced. D'Monte said improvements were made to open spaces and common areas, roads, sewage and drainage systems, street signage, street lighting and traffic and parking management. Apart from this, individual houses were restored, and an innovative fire system was also introduced. Locals say most residents are senior citizens and want to live peacefully without disturbances by motorists. Kaevan Umrigar of Khaki Tours, who works to create awareness about Mumbai's heritage, said Bandra comprised 23 gaothans that housed fisher folk, Kunbis (a farming community) and the agris community who had salt pans. "Ranwar was a farming village, and the area had paddy fields. Later, these paddy fields made way for urban settlements. These little villages are now trapped in the city. Now, only 10 to 15 gaothans in Bandra have survived," he said. But preserving heritage comes at a cost, and if a 'gaothan' comes under heritage guidelines, it becomes difficult to upgrade a home in the area or live a modern life, Umigar said, adding that heritage should be made attractive by tapping the tourism potential of these areas. 'Gaothans' in Mumbai and the larger Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) are urban villages that house the city's original inhabitants. The Mumbai suburban district collector and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been roped in for Ranwar's facelift plan. Umigar calls land scarcity a threat to 'gaothans', with only 100 left in the city. "When someone wants to develop gaothans, they want to do it vertically. There is a constant battle between heritage and development. They (villages) survive because the houses are tightly packed and on narrow lanes. So individual houses are not attractive for redevelopment, and parking becomes an issue," he said.

300-year-old Bandra village to get facelift to conserve its glorious past

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A growing number of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, per a BofA study.</li><li>Around 25% of households spend more than 95% of their monthly income on necessities, the bank said.</li></ul>More Americans are living paycheck to paycheck than they were five years ago, with around a quarter of all households saving next to nothing from their pay each month, according to a study from Bank of America.In <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/paycheck-to-paycheck-lower-income-households.html?utm_source=Email_Institute&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_campaign=Flag_Email_Payment_October_24&amp;utm_content=102224_n_02_economic-insights/paycheck-to-paycheck-lower-income-households.html">a report this month</a>, the bank analyzed internal data to estimate the percentage of households that spent most of their income on necessities, which include expenses like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/12-million-americans-spend-over-half-paycheck-rent-harvard-study-2024-1">housing</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-youre-still-spending-much-of-your-budget-on-food-2024-2">food</a>.While 50% of respondents to a BofA survey said they felt themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck, the bank's report found that around 30% of households were spending more than 90% of their income on necessary expenses, while around 25% were spending more than 95% of their income on necessary expenses, the bank said.<div type="image" title="Graph showing households who describe themselves as living paycheck to paycheck" height="861" width="1461" msid="114511155" hostid="261" sizebytes="34174"></div><div type="image" title="Graph showing share of households spending more than 90% or 95% of income on necessities" height="744" width="1452" msid="114511150" hostid="261" sizebytes="31344"></div>The share of people living paycheck to paycheck was up from the share recorded five years ago, the report said, though it didn't specify the size of the increase.The five-year increase was evident across all income groups. Though lower-income households were most likely to struggle to save, even some high-income earners fell into the paycheck-to-paycheck category, the bank said.35% of households living paycheck to paycheck made less than $50,000 a year, though 20% of households living paycheck to paycheck made more than $150,000, the study said.<div type="image" title="Graph showing households living paycheck to paycheck by income group" height="751" width="1453" msid="114511148" hostid="261" sizebytes="29376"></div>Five out of six main demographic groups saw an increase in households living paycheck to paycheck since 2019.Older generations, though, were more likely to struggle to save at the end of the month, pointing to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-x-baby-boomers-savings-cant-afford-retirement-2024-4">the retirement crisis</a> unfolding in the US. 30% of boomers said they were spending more than 95% of their paycheck on necessities, compared to less than 20% of Gen Zers who met that criteria.<div type="image" title="Graph showing households living paycheck to paycheck by generation" height="741" width="1431" msid="114511161" hostid="261" sizebytes="30756"></div>More households could be living paycheck to paycheck due to higher necessary expenses, the bank said, noting that the share of households that struggled to save differed across various regions of the US."In our view, the drivers could relate to households' life cycle positions, such as having younger or larger families, as well as potentially geographic factors, including housing costs," the bank wrote. "Many of these costs are unavoidable (they are by definition necessary) and it is unlikely these households would be able to reduce their spending without some major changes to, for example, where they live."Though the pace of inflation has cooled, the accumulated increase in prices has raised costs overall, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL">urban consumer prices up 23%</a> over the last five years, according to Federal Reserve data.Housing costs, another major necessary expense, have also climbed, with the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS">median home sales price up 28%</a> over the last five years, Census data shows. With rising prices comes larger mortgages and higher mortgage payments as borrowing costs remain elevated after years of tightening Fed policy. Other studies have pointed to increasing feelings of financial insecurity among Americans. More than a third of US workers were estimated to be living paycheck to paycheck, according to a survey conducted by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics/?tpt=b#key-insights">Bankrate in August</a>. Meanwhile, 30% of respondents in a separate Bankrate survey said they expected to never be financially secure.

An increasing number of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, BofA says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hurricane Helene battered rural mountain towns in North Carolina, a key voting bloc for Trump.</li><li>Some analysts and candidates expect turnout to be lower in the region as people rebuild.</li></ul>Three weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, hundreds of roads and bridges <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-10-14-ncdot-hurricane-helene-recovery.aspx">remain damaged or closed</a> and tens of thousands of residents still don't have running water. Many are displaced after losing their homes and businesses, while others are still clearing out muck and debris.With many Helene survivors still in the thick of recovery, especially residents of rural mountain towns, political analysts and candidates told Business Insider they expect turnout to be lower in the state's western region. The <a target="_blank" href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/north-carolina/">latest polls</a> show that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are neck-and-neck, and North Carolina remains a critical battleground state for either candidate's victory."Voting is not the top priority for a whole lot of people right now," said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. "Even among the most committed voters. If they don't have drinkable water, their priorities have shuffled. So I expect voter turnout to be down in the most-affected counties."Cooper said his home was largely spared by Helene, but some family members who live in Asheville temporarily relocated to South Carolina. That includes his dad, who had planned to vote early and in-person but now must request a mail-in ballot.Early voting began in North Carolina on October 17, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.ncsbe.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/18/north-carolina-sets-turnout-record-first-day-early-voting">state election officials said in-person turnout topped a previous record set in 2020.</a> At the county level, state election officials told BI that comparing this year's numbers to 2020 wouldn't be accurate due to several caveats, including that the absentee-by-mail voting period started two weeks earlier in 2020 than it did this year.The rural mountain areas of North Carolina previously favored Trump. He won North Carolina by less than 75,000 votes in the 2020 presidential race, with strong support in areas outside urban centers. That included 11 of the 13 counties hardest-hit by Helene. The two exceptions were Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, and Watauga County.<div type="image" title="A man stands near a home with a Trump 2024 campaign sign as he coordinates relief in Lake Lure, North Carolina, on October 2, 2024 after Hurricane Helene." height="683" width="1024" msid="114380742" hostid="261" sizebytes="122340"></div>The Democrats aim to flip <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/state/north-carolina">historically red</a> North Carolina, seeing a path in the rapidly growing suburban areas like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Fayetteville. Harris is trying to win over Black and college educated voters, as well as women who oppose the state's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-atlantic/patients/health-care-services/abortion-services/nc-abortion-faqs">restrictive abortion law</a>. But the aftermath of Helene has become a political lightning rod, with Trump attacking the Biden administration's response.<h2 id="b6b2ed09-6d41-465a-9740-c901aa87fc11">Officials say North Carolinians know the importance of voting</h2>The traditional ways to reach people, such as door knocking and social media, aren't as accessible because of the destruction and spotty internet service. This has made it difficult for campaign staff to canvas and combat rumors.Trump has spread disinformation, telling attendees at a campaign rally that Harris stole Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funding and spent it on housing for migrants. He also wrote on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113227266617485932">Truth Social</a> that the federal government and Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, were going out of their way to not assist Republican-leaning areas.The Biden administration and some GOP politicians have debunked the claims, including Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican who represents North Carolina's 11th district, which was devastated by Helene.Edwards told BI that he's been working around the clock to connect survivors with the resources they need. He <a target="_blank" href="https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/debunking-helene-response-myths">issued a statement on October 8</a>, after being inundated with emails and calls from people upset about unfounded rumors."I was getting calls from people around the country who wanted to send personnel, equipment, and water, but worried it wouldn't make it to the right location because of the rumors," Edwards told BI. "Primarily, that FEMA was confiscating supplies and turning people away. There is absolutely no truth to that."Edwards added that even though folks are busy putting their lives back together, they understand that an important election is right around the corner. They are motivated to get out and vote for Trump, he said."They remember what our lives were like the day before the storm," Edwards said, pointing to inflation, oil prices, and a crisis at the Southern border.Edwards' competitor, Rep. Caleb Rudow, is a Democrat who represents Buncombe county in the state legislature. He's been canvassing and posting <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/CalebRudow/status/1846144971256057972">on social media</a>, talking about the importance of this election, particularly after Helene.Rudow said the state needs elected officials who want to solve the climate crisis, which is fueling more intense hurricanes. He also told BI that the relief work by state, local, and federal officials after Helene has shown the power of government in the wake of a disaster.Rudow added that people are resilient, and part of recovery is getting life back to normal. That includes talking about these issues and voting.Even so, people who've lost their homes and loved ones probably aren't thinking about voting, said Bob Phillips, executive director at Common Cause North Carolina, a voter rights group. But it's hard to predict how Helene will affect turnout.North Carolina election officials made emergency changes to expand voting access for residents recovering from the storm."Helene will be a part of this election, and we'll just have to see what the drop off is," Phillips said.Were you impacted by Hurricane Helene and want to share your voting story? Contact cboudreau@businessinsider.com.

Rural North Carolinians are key for Trump's election chances in the swing state. Hurricane Helene upended their lives.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Families with young kids continue to flee major US cities, despite urban recovery post-pandemic.</li><li>The population of children under five in New York City fell 18% from April 2020 to July 2023.</li></ul>When the pandemic hit, young families fled cities across the US in droves. They moved to suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas in search of a more affordable, convenient life, driven in large part by housing costs.As major US cities have rebounded from pandemic lockdowns, that trend has slowed, but families with young kids are still fleeing, <a target="_blank" href="https://eig.org/families-exodus/">a new report</a> from the Economic Innovation Group found.The report found that the population of children under five years old in New York City fell 18% between April 2020 and July 2023, while the number of young children fell by 15% in Chicago's Cook County, 15% in San Francisco, and 14% in Los Angeles County in that same period.On average, large urban counties had a 3.9% in the number of kids under five between 2020 and 2021, 2.2% between 2021 and 2022, and 1.5% between 2022 and 2023.Big cities like New York have begun growing again since the pandemic, but those population gains are primarily due to a rise in immigrant residents and declining death rates, according to the report, which is based on US Census data published this month. Overall, domestic out-migration from big cities is still double the rate it was pre-pandemic."This stuck out as a big surprise to me," EIG policy analyst Connor O'Brien, who authored the report, told Business Insider. "This data is three years out from the start of the pandemic, cities have started to recover robustly on a bunch of different measures." But, he added, "Young families are just not coming back."This comes amid a general aging of the US population. The US birthrate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/america-birth-rate-decline-a111d21b">is falling,</a> and the population of young children nationwide has dropped 4.6% since the pandemic, the EIG report noted. The population of young kids fell in two-thirds of the nation's counties since April 2020. In 2023 alone, the number of young kids fell in 58% of all counties.But large urban counties have lost young kids at almost double the national average rate. Birth rates in big cities have also fallen at about double the rate of rural birth rates over the last ten years, EIG found.All of this is pretty bad news for big cities, many of which are still struggling to fend off the so-called "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midwest-america-cities-downtown-crisis-office-apocalypse-urban-doom-loop-2023-6">urban doom loop</a>" in downtowns emptied of workers and facing shrinking tax bases. "Parents are opting out of living in big cities or deciding to still live there but have no kids," O'Brien said. "I think that sends a pretty depressing message about the growth prospects of those cities going forward because at the end of the day, people vote with their feet."EIG's analysis echoes other recent reports. Families with kids under six years old are more than twice as likely to leave New York City than families without young kids, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parents-children-fleeing-nyc-high-housing-daycare-costs-2024-6">the Fiscal Policy Institute found</a>. Families with kids six or older moved out of the city at the same rates as childless families, suggesting that the costs "uniquely associated with young children — childcare and the need for more space" are pushing families to leave, FPI, a left-leaning think tank, argued.O'Brien blames the exodus on a slew of factors, ranging from the popularity of remote and hybrid work to the <a target="_blank" href="https://eig.org/left-behind-places/?campaign_id=9&amp;emc=edit_nn_20240708&amp;instance_id=128185&amp;nl=the-morning&amp;regi_id=58846835&amp;segment_id=171563&amp;te=1&amp;user_id=33847c70fb45b38628c8b13c348dde58">surprisingly strong recent economic recovery</a> of many exurban and rural areas.The result? Some exurbs — particularly in the pro-development Sunbelt — are seeing young families flood in. Exurban counties like Polk County, Florida, which sits between Orlando and Tampa, and Montgomery County, Texas, which is outside Houston, are booming.As Business Insider has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-priced-out-of-cities-into-suburbs-housing-crisis-2024-1">previously reported</a>, millennials aren't just leaving the urban core — they're moving to the farthest reaches of the suburbs. This phenomenon is perhaps a predictable result of the back-to-the-city movement they led over the last two decades. That surge in demand for housing and amenities has made many urban cores some of the most expensive places to live in the country.For years, rising housing costs in cities have pushed even the most devoted young city dwellers to move to the exurbs and suburbs, where housing has generally been more abundant and affordable. And the pandemic only deepened that trend.Have you moved your family out of a major US city? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:erelman@businessinsider.com">erelman@businessinsider.com</a> to share your story.

Young families are still fleeing major cities in huge numbers, a 'big surprise' for metros trying to escape the urban doom loop

<ul class="summary-list"><li>People living in RVs or cars has surged in Bozeman, Montana, as housing costs have spiked.</li><li>"Urban camping" has made the city's unhoused population more visible.</li></ul>So-called urban camping — when people live in RVs or vehicles parked on city streets — has risen rapidly in Bozeman, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montana-mountain-town-seeley-lake-largest-employer-closes-costs-housing-2024-3">Montana</a>, where locals are getting priced out by rising housing costs that are impacting many communities in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colorado-ski-town-steamboat-springs-high-housing-costs-2024-3">the West</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-new-york-city-bought-million-home-bozeman-montana-happier-2023-8">Bozeman</a>, located in the Rocky Mountains about 80 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, has a population of around 56,000 people. City officials say the number of Bozeman residents living in their RVs or cars spiked by 200% in two years, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/montana-city-grapples-with-rise-of-unhoused-people-living-in-vehicles">Montana PBS</a>, which cited the city. Since 2020, the overall unhoused population has grown by 50%.The rise in residents experiencing homelessness comes as housing costs have spiked. The median listing price for a home has gone from $669,000 at the start of 2020 to $1.2 million in 2024, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://belonging-in-bozeman.hub.arcgis.com/pages/housing">city data</a>. Meanwhile, rental costs in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/gallatin-association-of-realtors-optimistic-housing-market-is-starting-to-change">Gallatin County</a>, where Bozeman is located, increased nearly 19% from 2019 to 2022 and continued to rise, leaving the county with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/gallatin-association-of-realtors-optimistic-housing-market-is-starting-to-change">highest rents in the state</a>."Homelessness has always been on the radar," Bozeman Mayor Terry Cunningham told PBS. "This — with urban camping, RVs, more cars — This is a recent phenomenon."Though homelessness in the city has been rising since the pandemic, the increase in RVs and campers on city streets made the problem more visible, resulting in tensions over how to address it."First, these folks are our residents too," the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bozeman.net/our-city/city-projects/unhoused-in-public-rights-of-way">city website</a> says when discussing how it's addressing urban camping. "Many contribute to the workforce, send their kids to our local schools, and may not appear 'homeless' when you see them at their jobs and in the area."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-vrbo-short-term-rentals-bozeman-montana-regulations-bans-2023-6">Bozeman residents</a> are divided over whether the city has been too lenient in addressing the issue. In some locations, the city has installed dumpsters and trash cans near areas with campers to prevent litter and provide the unhoused with a place to dispose of their garbage.A group of local business owners sued Bozeman last fall, arguing the city was not doing enough to enforce existing laws that would prevent people from camping on public streets. Business owners say they have dealt with theft, vandalism, and instances of harassment.Residents have also complained that some people living in their cars are not doing so out of necessity but just to save money on rent, pointing to the presence of new cars and generators on the some of the campers, PBS reported.Mayor Cunningham told the outlet part of the issue is that the city cannot easily determine why individuals are living in their cars or RVs, and people are not required to disclose that information.In November, the city implemented an ordinance aimed at limiting urban camping. It prohibits camping at the same location for more than 30 days without getting an extension and also prohibits camping in front of certain places, like businesses and schools.The result has been like playing musical chairs, people living in their campers told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, which reported the city has hired three roles to enforce the ordinance."They're making it harder to be homeless. It's already hard enough," Steven Ankney, who lives in an RV with family, told the outlet. "I understand they don't want us on the street, but it's going to happen until they get livable places for us, or affordable houses for us, or places that we can live."The city says it is working on bringing more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-to-cuenca-ecuador-cant-afford-move-home-montana-2024-4">affordable housing</a> to Bozeman and is working with the nonprofit Human Resource Development Council to build a 24/7 shelter.

'Urban camping' in this Montana city has spiked 200% as priced-out locals move into cars and RVs

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Saudi Arabia has embarked on its ambitious project to build a city in the shape of a line. </li><li>While the concept of linear urban design has existed since the 19th century, few have attempted it. </li></ul>Saudi Arabia is constructing a huge mirrored city in the desert.The Line, as it has been named, is actually <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neom-saudi-arabia-desert-megacity-plans-look-pictures-2024-4">a megacity consisting of two skyscrapers</a> that was originally intended to stretch out for 170km, with the aim to eventually house nine million people.Officials have called it an "architectural masterpiece" and a "revolution in urban living."Although <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-neom-megaproject-not-struggling-vision-2030-minister-2024-4">recent reports</a> suggest the plans have been scaled back, the 2.4km still due to be built will be the largest linear city in existence if it is completed.As a concept, linear living is nothing new."It is ambitious but hardly revolutionary," Anirban Adhya, a Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Lawrence Technological University, told Business Insider.Following the Industrial Revolution, many urban planners looked to alternative city layouts to tackle booming populations.The Spanish architect Arturo Soria is widely credited with designing the first linear city, "La Ciudad Lineal," in 1882 on the outskirts of Madrid. Around forty years later, in 1924, renowned Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier offered another radical alternative with his "Ville Radieuse," a linear, ordered metropolis full of green space.The Soviet urbanist Mikhail Okhitovich was sent to a gulag in 1930 for his "economically crippling" proposal to <a target="_blank" href="https://socks-studio.com/2012/07/14/mikhail-okhitovich-and-the-disurbanism/">transform the city of Magnitogorsk</a> into eight ribbon-like strips converging on a factory."It has been common for urban planners to argue for a new future as a reaction to what they claim to be an 'unsustainable;' existing situation of their time. The Line in Neom is no different," said Adhya.But revolutionary or not, is the idea of building a dense metropolis in the shape of a line a good one?<div type="image" title="The Line Neom" height="801" width="1433" msid="110639896" hostid="261" sizebytes="142404"></div>Compared to traditional layouts, the benefits of linear cities include efficient public transport, ready access to nature, and a more egalitarian lifestyle. Theoretically endless, they can easily extend as populations expand.Proposals for The Line echo many of these promises.The project's website presents the city as a solution to mass urbanization and the climate crisis, depicting it as a sustainable carless utopia that will preserve 95% of the region's land.Neom's designers claim that all essential services will be accessible within five minutes, and nature will be just a two-minute walk away. AI-powered technology throughout the city will enhance sustainability and maximize residents' life expectancy, they say."There is no right shape for a city — they typically evolve over time, based on natural, cultural, transportation, political, and economic factors," Mona Lovgreen, a partner at Canadian architecture firm DIALOG, told BI.She believes that if designed correctly, The Line's linear form would make it accessible and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources along its entire length.<div type="image" title="Neom construction." height="990" width="1980" msid="110639897" hostid="261" sizebytes="99798"></div>Though she said its goals may be exaggerated, Lovgreen believes the vision of The Line is admirable."It challenges us to rethink urban design and discover new ways to make cities efficient, livable, and sustainable."It could set a trailblazing example for how to use AI to improve sustainability and energy efficiency, something US urban planners should replicate, Lovgreen added.The focus on convenience and services being within reach also shows promise, Adhya said, pointing to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-freedom-cities-build-housing-conservatives-scoff-at-leftist-plan-2023-3">successful examples already underway</a> in cities like Paris and Portland.In "smaller chunks and pieces," the linear structure of The Line could work, Adhya said.<h2 id="54f67557-c933-4746-bf46-7f190715c720">'Bland and monotonous'</h2>While some practical sides of the structure have potential, all experts BI spoke to saw fundamental issues with the lived experience inside linear cities."The Line could be a fascinating place to visit and experience, but I'm still unsure of whether humans are designed to live in such a rigid and prescriptive structure," Lovgreen said.The Line is formed of modules that can each house 80,000 people, able to move about through a horizontal and vertical transport system.<div type="image" title="The Line, NEOM" height="1280" width="1920" msid="110639899" hostid="261" sizebytes="173552"></div>"Compared to other urban designs like grid layout, radial layout, ring layout, or some combination of these, human experience in a strictly linear urban development can lack interest and variation," explained Adhya."Certain parts of the city could become too far and segregated."The repetition of infrastructure and kit-of parts would be "bland and monotonous," lacking the unique character that other cities offer, said Lovgreen."Ultimately, the psychological impact of living in such a regimented environment may affect residents' well-being," she told BI.This type of structure is not only monotonous, but can limit social cohesion, according to John Gold, a professor of Urban Historical Geography at Oxford Brookes University."Linear cities are an extreme form of urban dispersal — community development and social cohesion still need centrality," Gold told BI.Another challenge in Neom's design is its over-reliance on technology and the public transport system, experts said. If something went wrong, the entire system would crumble, they warned."Most cities have network redundancy, where multiple options are available if a specific connection or intersection is blocked. A linear city may not have this capability," explained Lovgreen.<div type="image" title="NEOM Saudi" height="1280" width="1920" msid="110639900" hostid="261" sizebytes="210062"></div>Lastly, in spite of The Line's proclamations of sustainability, its huge mirrored walls could be harmful ecologically both in terms of unnecessary heat gain within the structure as well as being <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neom-the-line-mirrored-tower-birds-kill-saudi-arabia-2024-5">detrimental for the migratory flight paths of billions of birds</a>.But the big issue, according to Gold, is "who would actually want to live in such a 'city'?""These schemes, and the Saudi one is a classic example, map out a hi-tech utopian future but never engage with people as they really are. In my opinion, linear city schemes are best left as design exercises for third-year architectural students," Gold said.

Saudi Arabia is trying to build the largest linear city ever. It's a visionary but flawed concept, urban planners say.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My husband and I often travel in a small camper van together.</li><li>To ensure we don't fight, we've had to adjust our lives.</li></ul>In the mid-70s, my then-boyfriend Barry and I tested our commitment to each other by exploring Britain's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-worst-national-parks-usa-from-man-visited-each-one-2024-4">national parks</a> and villages in a used campervan for three months.The countryside was wild and spectacular, but that spring was especially wet, and we spent many hours cooped up in tight quarters. Still, we survived, and I'm happy to report we passed the test.That was our first attempt to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/long-distance-marriage-lessons-distance-doesnt-work-2024-8">live together</a> in a cramped space, but certainly not our last. Since then, we've also spent two weeks on a 25-foot sailboat and slept on a futon for a few weeks in my former office when we were between homes.But our longest success story has been squeezing ourselves into the 16-foot <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expensive-2-week-van-life-trip-worth-every-penny-2024-1">campervan</a> we've owned for the last 23 years, which we use to explore northern California and southern Oregon during the warmer months of the year.A campervan is a little brother to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-way-take-retirement-road-trips-owning-rv-cons-campervan-2024-9">an RV</a>: 16 feet long compared to twice that length or more in a motorhome. It also comes with none of the amenities found in RVs. There's no toilet, shower, or free-standing bed. Our loveseat-length bench doubles as a bed, which means we unfold it, make the bed at night, and reverse the process in the morning.Living in cramped quarters like our van can definitely <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teammates-before-married-relationship-is-stronger-2024-8">challenge our relationship</a>, but we've learned to make it work. Here's how.<h2 id="c9a1f60f-196f-44f1-9e78-39534bccdb50">We give each other space</h2>While Barry and I enjoy each other's company, we also each thrive on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-making-friends-companionship-time-alone-2024-6">alone time</a>. To create this, we've had to figure out how to spend time apart when we're on the road.We spend a good chunk of our <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daylight-savings-time-dst-death-heart-attacks-accident">daylight hours</a> outside, walking, hiking, paddling, or cycling. We do all these things together but turn them into solo activities. So, we do them near each other but don't necessarily interact.Plus, I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-youre-making-before-bed">go to bed</a> and get up earlier than he does.<h2 id="63dc4643-384e-40fa-a588-3e7e61e7e0f2">We're a good team</h2>We each contribute to the success of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bucket-list-trips-to-book-a-year-in-advance">van trip</a> and each play to our strengths.Before leaving, Barry fills the propane and water, deflates and stores the kayak and paddleboard, puts the bikes on the rack, and stores our folding solar panels.I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tried-6-to-1-grocery-shopping-takeaways-saved-money-2024">plan meals</a>, buy and store the food, and cook and wash the dishes. We take turns putting the bed down at night and away in the morning.<h2 id="cf9364a0-c630-4f4f-96cf-fd74b55e39ad">We limit stress</h2>Neither of us likes to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bought-tesla-model-3-drive-long-distances-one-downside-2023-11">drive long distances</a>, so usually, the most we drive on any given day is 2 1/2 hours, broken up by rest stops. We also don't like urban traffic, so we avoid big cities whenever possible. For this reason, we usually stay near home, though there are exceptions.I remember one long trip to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park. We ended up spending the night right off I-5 near a convenience store in Bakersfield, California. Exhausted from driving, Barry went to sleep early while I wandered around the foggy parking lot around 10 p.m., getting a kick out of the weird, surreal atmosphere. We each did what we needed to do to reduce our stress that night.We also limit stress by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-organizing-tips-2017-6">staying organized</a> and cleaning up after ourselves. I'm not naturally that tidy, but I know that in the van, we can't afford to be disorganized. Mess means stress, especially for Barry. We make sure to have a place for everything and put items away when we're done.<h2 id="d9786a56-8828-43e4-aaaf-12d6c6191b76">We are positive and appreciative</h2>There's no room for bickering in a van, so we make a practice of being positive and upbeat.Barry praises <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-food-reporter-tries-nyc-golden-corral-for-first-time-2024-1">my cooking</a>, even when it's not particularly elegant. In turn, I appreciate the way he improves the van environment by partitioning shelves, putting up hooks, and devising other ways to save space.<h2 id="91c5dd85-d1f2-42d6-a9a8-89cb05e036fe">We reach out to other people</h2>Connecting with others injects new energy into our relationship. Our van is a great icebreaker, leading to many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/10-second-communication-hack-prepare-3-topics-supercommunicator-2024-2">enjoyable conversations</a> with fellow road warriors. People often admire our van and ask if we'd mind showing them the interior.Wherever we're parked, I wander around, notice license plates, and strike up conversations with people. On trails, we chat with others and sometimes invite them back for a cup of tea.<h2 id="fac1bf70-9657-44e3-84c9-2b011dea8773">We remember what brought us out</h2>For us, the whole point of owning a van is to experience natural beauty and sleep with the door open to the outdoors. There's nothing like hiking or paddling during the day, watching the stars at night, and falling asleep to the sound of a flowing river or the surf.While our van is indeed a small space, the flip side of "cramped" is "cozy." There's nothing as intimate as sitting opposite each other in the evening and having a glass of wine as we mull over the day. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skoolie-conversion-vans-tiny-homes-our-van-quest-2023-4">Our van</a> is our safe space, and whatever compromises we need to make to keep it that way are absolutely worth it.

My husband and I have traveled in a camper van for 25 years. Living in such a small space can be draining on our relationship.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Columbia graduate student Gerardo Rios Garcia lives in a van for financial security and adventure.</li><li>He drove his van from Mexico to NYC and sleeps in it while balancing school and multiple jobs.</li></ul>I'm a 26-year-old graduate student at Columbia University and an intern at the United Nations who lives in a vintage Volkswagen van in Manhattan. I made this choice driven by a goal for future <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-wealth-financial-security-quality-of-life-2023-8">financial security</a> and a thirst for adventure.My journey into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/van-life-road-trip-convinced-nomadic-lifestyle-is-for-me-2024-3">van life</a> began when I was a kid, listening to my grandpa's stories about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/road-trip-packing-list-tips-for-smooth-ride-2023-6">road trips</a> around Mexico and the US. During my junior year of college that same van my grandpa had driven was passed down to me.Though it was no longer in the best condition — plagued with rust, brake issues, electrical malfunctions, and motor problems — I decided to renovate it.<div type="image" title="the inside of a beat up van" height="2268" width="3024" msid="111229059" hostid="261" sizebytes="505964"></div><h2 id="00708df5-a7eb-4a36-add5-10a1ae91bb99">I got into Columbia University for graduate school, and my van was the most affordable and fun way to go</h2>After completing my undergrad degree in business, I knew I wanted to continue my studies. I had no idea where to go, other than it had to be in North America, so I could take my van with me. I also wanted to avoid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-consolidation-deadline-extended-more-time-borrowers-debt-relief-2024-5">taking out loans</a> or asking my family for financial support.I applied and was accepted to Columbia University's MS in sustainability management program. After working full time in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-life-consultant-mid-20s-great-job-recent-grad-2024-6">consulting</a> in Mexico for two years, saving as much as possible, and selling or donating everything that wouldn't fit into my van, I set out to drive to my graduate program.After crossing the border in Arizona, I had 2,500 miles and 10 states to cover. I experienced engine issues in Albuquerque, Kansas City, and Indianapolis, and I had to tow the van with a U-Haul at one point. Still, I made it to NYC on a Sunday morning and had orientation on Monday. My Volkswagen van became my home in September.<div type="image" title="the inside of a van that's been renovated to be a home" height="3024" width="4032" msid="111229062" hostid="261" sizebytes="923566"></div>I wanted a lifestyle that allowed me to focus on my studies and work to secure a good professional standing while living life to the fullest and gaining as many new experiences as possible. The van was a solution that was both economically viable and incredibly liberating.<h2 id="4bf944c0-acb5-4270-a562-d6b23d0b4dbf">Living in a van in Manhattan is hard, scary, and stressful</h2><div type="image" title="a blue van parked in New York" height="2268" width="3024" msid="111229056" hostid="261" sizebytes="371622"></div>At just over 46 square feet, my van poses significant challenges. I must constantly find free street parking, deal with extreme temperatures, and stay aware of my surroundings. I use the WiFi at coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, or the gym. I also typically shower at the gym.I have a mini fridge, an electric stove powered by a solar panel, and basic cooking utensils, so I cook sometimes. I also frequent diners, Columbia's dining halls, and coffee shops for meals.I have friends over from time to time, but because the space is small, it's not something I do very often. My mom visited me a few months ago when the weather was nice for a week, and she stayed with me in the van.<h2 id="9ca04337-b8c3-446e-b4f6-5dcf6d8fc0b3">I'm more involved in my community</h2>A small living space has encouraged me to become more engaged in my community and vastly increased my productivity. Balancing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-3-full-time-remote-jobs-overemployment-reddit-millennial-debt-2024-1">three part-time jobs</a> — a teaching assistant position, a research assistant role, and my internship at the UN — while joining student clubs, volunteering, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA has been feasible because I don't feel the need to always be at home.I study in the van when the weather permits, watch movies, and take naps. During the coldest months of winter and hottest parts of summer, I mainly just sleep in it.<div type="image" title="a bed inside a van" height="2268" width="3024" msid="111229069" hostid="261" sizebytes="514408"></div>My unconventional lifestyle has become a talking point. Colleagues and professors find my story intriguing. In the professional world, I've encountered a range of reactions, from admiration and curiosity to skepticism and judgment. These interactions have taught me valuable lessons in communication, resilience, and growth.<h2 id="ef72ff17-5a18-49f7-a4fd-295c5a08dbbd">I've learned how to prioritize what's truly important</h2>I now know that I want a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/minimalism-sold-my-home-possessions-stuff-downsized-simplify-life-2023-3">minimalist lifestyle</a> focused on my goals and passions, free from the distractions of excessive materialism.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-retiring-early-fire-movement-financial-independence-millionaire-savings-work-2024-5">Financial independence</a> is another significant benefit of my van life. I save around $2,000 each month and avoid student loans. This freedom gives me the cushion to explore the culinary richness of NYC, play sports, attend events, and do other activities that I wouldn't be able to do otherwise.<h2 id="2e3075e3-d7fa-46af-8c4b-495d3677d7a9">Van life has been an incredible journey of self-discovery and growth</h2><div type="image" title="a blue van parked in NYC" height="963" width="1284" msid="111229065" hostid="261" sizebytes="179394"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tried-van-life-2-weeks-cheaper-than-denver-life-2024-3">Van life</a> has shown me there are endless possibilities when you choose to live authentically and embrace the unknown, but the uncertainty is the biggest challenge of this lifestyle. Not having a comfortable place to retreat and dealing with added stress can be challenging.Materially, there's limited space, and being essentially homeless can be taxing on relationships. There's also the constant concern of potential break-ins and mechanical issues. However, I truly believe living in a van has positively impacted my professional and academic life.I want my story to be a reminder that there are many ways to live and thrive. I like to think that my van, parked amid the urban chaos, stands as a symbol of resilience, creativity, and the enduring human spirit.I finish my courses in December and plan to stay in the van until then. I don't intend to live in my van for an extended period after finishing school, but I haven't decided on my next steps. I'm open to exploring different opportunities and locations.

I live rent-free in NYC. Moving into a van has allowed me to save, avoid taking out loans, and live a life of adventure.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>For decades, Detroit was seemingly caught in an economic time warp that hobbled its full potential.</li><li>But the city's downtown has one of the most stunning urban reinvention stories in the United States.</li></ul>Last week, more than 775,000 football fans converged in downtown Detroit for three days as the city hosted the NFL Draft.Detroit obliterated the previous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/04/27/detroit-nfl-draft-weekend-breaking-attendance-record/73482236007/">draft turnout record</a> set in 2019 when Nashville hosted roughly 600,000 fans across three days.Campus Martius Park, perhaps the most revered public gathering space in Detroit, served as the centerpiece of the festivities.Such positive developments are not atypical for Detroit these days. New residents continue to flock to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-cities-downtowns-fight-doom-loop-office-crisis-2024-4">residential developments downtown</a>, and businesses occupy early-20th-century architectural gems that sprouted when the city was at its industrial zenith.So, just how did this Midwestern city become a model for urban reinvention?<div type="image" title="NFL Draft" height="3024" width="4032" msid="109675229" hostid="261" sizebytes="2498410"></div><h2>The past informs the present</h2>In the 1980s and 1990s, downtown Detroit was a visible reminder of the "urban doom loop," when residents head for the exits and office towers empty out — leading to diminishing tax revenues that threaten core municipal services.The legendary flagship location of Hudson's department store, beloved by generations of Detroiters, closed in 1983. The 1980s saw scores of layoffs in the automobile industry and the closing of numerous factories, causing economic strain in a region once known for its prosperity and its gateway to the middle class. Many small businesses either closed up shop or moved to the region's suburbs, a trend that continued into the 1990s.But when the city of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in July 2013, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/22/1189093540/detroit-bankruptcy-comeback-hurdle">the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in US history</a>, many wondered whether an economic comeback would ever be fully realized. At the time, even weekly trash pickup had become unreliable in many neighborhoods.Now, the city is seemingly in its best economic position in decades.Detroit beat out Miami as the fastest-appreciating housing market in the country last November, with home prices rising by 8.7% year-over-year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240109628017/en/CoreLogic-US-Home-Price-Growth-Speeds-Up-Again-in-November">according to a CoreLogic report</a>.<div type="image" title="Hudson's" height="5584" width="8368" msid="109675230" hostid="261" sizebytes="1641784"></div><h2>People want to live in the city</h2>The allure of walkable neighborhoods, public transportation, green spaces, and businesses catering to local needs is something that many millennials and Gen Zs have embraced with open arms — but it's also a quality attractive to many boomers headed into retirement.Downtown Detroit has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/travel/architecture-detroit-albert-kahn.html">an abundance of towering, historic buildings</a> that are perfect for office-to-housing conversions and office renovations that have taken hold in downtowns across the country.Dan Gilbert, the cofounder of Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans) and a Detroit native, has poured billions into the city's downtown to revitalize the area.Gilbert's real-estate firm, Bedrock Detroit, is building a 45-story mixed-use skyscraper at the site of the old Hudson's department store. When completed, the development will be home to General Motors' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2024/04/15/gm-headquarters-rencen-detroit-hudsons-tower/73328040007/">new global headquarters</a>, a five-star hotel, and high-rise residences.GM is currently headquartered at the 1970s-era Renaissance Center, a Detroit icon. While the company's move from the Renaissance Center has certainly raised questions about the complex's future, GM is staying in the city. GM's future headquarters, which will be even closer to the residential buildings sprouting up downtown, is poised to continue contributing to the city's vitality.

Detroit's 'doom loop' was unlike any other American city. Its downtown is now a model for urban reinvention.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Urban waterfronts are neglected in many American cities. </li><li>But they have huge potential to revitalize cities and make them more equitable. </li></ul>On a sunny, 80-degree Saturday afternoon in late October, Mia Olis left her home in Chelsea to soak up the rays on Manhattan's brand-new — and so far only — public beach.Raised in Hawaii, Olis loves the water and surfing. But Rockaway Beach — more than an hour away by subway — was too far a trek that day. The 1,200 tons of sand near Greenwich Village along the Hudson river would have to do."I love that everybody's here," Olis, a 40-year-old lawyer, said while perched on a towel in a bikini. But she noted the park sits in a ritzy neighborhood, and thought it felt a little exclusive. "I wish it were more accessible to everybody else from uptown, Harlem, the Bronx." Still, she said, any new green space in New York is cause for celebration.Urban waterways can be a huge asset to cities and their residents. Rivers, lakes, canals, and ocean beaches can attract new residents, visitors, and commercial development. If they're well-designed, they can make cities more inclusive and help protect them from storms and heatwaves.Waterfronts are also just nice places to be. People are naturally drawn to them, as many <a target="_blank" href="https://mrbellersneighborhood.com/2004/03/on-the-aesthetics-of-urban-walking-and-writing">a poet</a> and sociologist has pointed out. And they'll also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1074384/average-waterfront-premiums-added-worldwide-by-location/#:~:text=It%20comes%20as%20no%20surprise,the%20third%20quarter%20of%202018.">pay a premium to live by them</a>. Economists say cities with struggling downtowns should invest in their green space — and that includes opening up waterfronts."Places that have better natural amenities — they tend to do better. They attract more people, they attract more jobs, they have higher economic growth," said Amanda Weinstein, a professor of economics at the University of Akron. But they have to be made accessible. "It's the investment in that natural amenity that matters."While the breeze off the Hudson offered some respite on that unusually warm fall day, a dip in the water would've been an even better way to cool off. But there's no public pool nearby, and <a target="_blank" href="https://waterfrontalliance.org/2023/06/29/can-you-swim-in-the-hudson-river/#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%20is%20%E2%80%9CYes,being%20swimmable%2C%20particularly%20after%20rainfall.">no sanctioned river swim spots</a> in the city. Even if the Hudson was consistently clean enough to swim in, it would take a lot to convince many New Yorkers to dive in."It would be a really big leap for me to swim in it," said Karin Balow, a 58-year-old Inwood resident who grew up along the river upstate. She traveled from her Upper Manhattan home to check out the new beach, where she settled into an Adirondack chair with a book. "But it has come a long, long way. So who knows?"<div type="image" title="People lounge on the new beach on Gansevoort peninsula in Manhattan on October 28, 2023." height="828" width="1280" msid="105315270" hostid="261" sizebytes="92466"></div>New York City has done a lot to invest in its 520 miles of waterfront. The sandy bluff on Gansevoort peninsula is part of the much larger Hudson River park and looks out over Little Island, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/little-island-nyc-photo-tour-barry-diller-diane-von-fuerstenbergs-2021-5">a whimsical, highly instagrammable transformation</a> of Pier 55. Hoards of people crowded the winding, tree-lined paths up to the island's breezy observation deck on that October day. If they read the signage, they'd know the city's garbage used to be incinerated where they stood. The park — the borough's second-largest — is credited with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/19/business/hudson-river-park-development-manhattan.html">helping revitalize Manhattan's west side</a>.Over the last couple of decades, New York has built a series of iconic waterfront parks on former industrial sites like Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park in Brooklyn, Battery Park and the East River park in Manhattan, and Gantry State Plaza Park and Astoria Park in Queens. Governor's island now features manmade hills with sweeping skyline views, urban farming, and glamping. And the East River might soon get <a target="_blank" href="https://secretnyc.co/nyc-floating-pool-east-river/">a massive floating pool</a>.Cities across the country are increasingly looking to transform their neglected waterfronts in an effort to bring people back downtown. Cleveland, Ohio, is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/10/60-complete-cleveland-downtown-lakefront-plan-calls-for-affordable-fun-scaled-down-shoreway-eventual-move-for-browns-tailgaters.html">working on a plan</a> for a new beach, housing, and park space on the shores of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Seattle has torn down an elevated freeway downtown to make way for a waterfront park.<div type="image" title="A man casts his line into the Tidal Basin as seen from under the inlet bridge, one of the local sights to be seen from the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, on March, 27, 2019 in Washington, DC." height="964" width="1280" msid="105315273" hostid="261" sizebytes="97766"></div><h2>Safer and more equitable cities</h2>A couple hundred miles south of Manhattan, the waters off the shores of the nation's capital are also finding new life. In recent years, DC has opened up its waterfront, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/exciting-the-wharfs-phase-2-opens-on-five-year-anniversary/3179428/">transforming the southwest</a> with the glitzy Wharf — featuring luxury condos, restaurants, music venues, and a soccer stadium, and redeveloping the Capitol riverfront <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/local/305/2021/02/17/968639957/new-development-planned-for-navy-yard-is-basically-another-wharf">from Navy Yard</a> to Buzzard Point with the Nationals baseball stadium and tons of new housing.The city just recently finished its decade-long construction of two major tunnels that capture stormwater, preventing <a target="_blank" href="https://dcist.com/story/23/09/18/new-anacostia-river-tunnel-online-sewage-overflows/">almost all sewage from overflowing</a> into the Anacostia river during storms and easing flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. For the first time in over a half century, the city is planning to open the Anacostia river next June for a sanctioned swimming event. The splash event was supposed to happen in July, and then September of this year, but was postponed twice due to severe storms.Urban waterways like the Hudson and Anacostia pose a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usgs.gov/science/science-explorer/climate/coasts-storms-and-sea-level-rise">serious flooding threat</a> to cities as climate change triggers rising sea levels and more ferocious storms. Waterfront parks can help in collecting storm surge and rainwater and preventing flooding. They can also offer respite as summers get hotter.Cities — built of heat-absorbing asphalt and concrete, instead of cooling greenery — <a target="_blank" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-urban-heat-islands-identifies-100600510.html">make heatwaves even worse</a>. International climate experts warn heat-related deaths globally <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/heat-related-deaths-could-more-than-quadruple-by-mid-century-report-2023-11-14/?taid=655468f0e7423b00010e1061&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=trueanthem&amp;utm_source=twitter">could more than quadruple</a> by mid-century if the planet heats up to 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. A cool breeze off a river or lake, or a dip in one, could save lives."There is a very real need in cities," said Trey Sherard, the riverkeeper at the DC non-profit Anacostia Riverkeeper, which is organizing the June swim event. "It's not just recreation, it's public health to be able to cool off that way."Climate resilience is also key to building more equitable cities. Communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods across the country <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-report-shows-disproportionate-impacts-climate-change-socially-vulnerable">are disproportionately impacted</a> by environmental impacts, like flooding and extreme heat. In the DC area, the vast majority of homes most vulnerable to flooding are in Ward 7 and Prince George's County, Maryland, both of which are majority Black. There are also historic inequities when it comes to swimming. Public pools across the country were largely racially segregated until the 1950s — and after that, many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marketplace.org/2021/02/15/public-pools-used-to-be-everywhere-in-america-then-racism-shut-them-down/">private pools</a> opened to cater to white people fleeing desegregation. Without safe and clean rivers and lakes to turn to, Black communities across the country often didn't have anywhere to take a dip or teach their kids to swim.DC's Black communities still face many of these challenges. The free swimming lessons that the city department of parks and recreation offers can't meet the high demand and don't cater to adults."There's a lot of water fear in DC, especially east of the river. And that speaks to generations being separated from their waterways," Sherard said.Sherard said the Anacostia's inaugural swim event is being modeled after one on the Charles River in Boston. But he also pointed to international models.In Switzerland's biggest city, Zurich, swimmers can hop into the Limmat river or Lake Zurich right downtown. The most enthusiastic locals in Zurich and Bern <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/17abc354-e3b9-48b8-8a25-bdccb4426f7f">swim to and from work</a> with their phone, wallet, and clothes strapped to them in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/switzerland-workers-commute-by-floating-down-rivers-video-2023-7">a floating waterproof satchel</a>. Paris is poised to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66238618">open up its Seine River to swimmers</a> for the first time in 100 years. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who's something of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.planetizen.com/features/124594-100-most-influential-urbanists-past-and-present">a global urbanist hero</a>, has pioneered a billion-dollar effort to clean up the iconic river in time to hold Olympic events in it next summer.Skepticism abounds about how clean the murky depths of the Anacostia are. Sherard said he hears plenty of "hell no, never" when it comes to swimming in the river, but he's also found real enthusiasm for opening the river up. There's lots of work left to do. Advocates for the river want Congress to approve funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Anacostia to remove toxic sediment and ease flooding.If the river is dredged, it could also be a huge boost for the country's first African American boating club — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seafarersyachtclub.com/">Seafarers Yacht Club</a> — whose boathouse on the river's west bank is only accessible in high tide because of accumulated sediment."What a gem to have on the river," Sherard said.

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