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  • Once Polluted and Reviled, the Chicago River Bounces Back

    August 02, 2018 |

    The New York Times |

    Photojournalism |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

    The Chicago River, once a place that tourists and locals alike would avoid, is now thriving after over 15 years of redevelopment efforts. Richard M. Daley, mayor at the time, enlisted the help of a Chicago architect to make the riverfront a more inviting place to spend time. That work has paid off. Now, in addition to being a location for boat commerce, the riverfront provides an inviting space for anyone who wants to meet for walks, drinks, food, or outdoor activities.

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  • The estate where local people refused to call last orders

    August 01, 2018 |

    The Guardian |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United Kingdom, Brighton

    The Bevy, a community-owned pub in Brighton, “is about creating an institution to bring together a fragmented community.” One of over 100 pub co-operatives throughout Britain, the Bevy is unique in that is is on a suburban housing estate. As such, it had huge power to add value to a struggling area, and it has done just that. Several years in, the Bevy acts as a community space, pays a living wage to employees, and welcomes all for good conversation and good beer.

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  • A simple solution to help cities fight overheating: more trees

    July 20, 2018 |

    FastCompany |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

    Trees are an effective bulwark against summer heat, providing shade and cooling the air as water evaporates from leaves. A collaborative project mapped heat and other considerations in Dallas and picked the neighborhood of Oak Cliff to plant more than 1,000 trees. The ultimate goal is to revegetate the entire city.

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  • Bugs and Birds: New Residents of a Greener Madrid

    July 13, 2018 |

    Bloomberg CityLab |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Spain, Madrid

    With a little strategic planning, cities can nurture biodiversity in the urban environment. “Sometimes, small actions can bring incredible results,” says Antonio Morcillo, deputy director for conservation of green areas and urban trees in Madrid. The city is allowing the Manzanares River to flow, spontaneous vegetation to grow, and opening hundreds of birdhouses and insect hotels to counteract habitat loss.

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  • Finding the Untapped Potential of Alleys

    July 13, 2018 |

    Bloomberg CityLab |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

    Redesigning an alley expands commercial space and brings life to a city. Long-neglected side streets across the United States are getting makeovers both by citizens and developers. Miami’s Jade Alley is a particularly showy example with its archways, flowering trees, ice cream shop, and lingerie boutique.

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  • One Woman's Quest to Fight Gentrification by Asking Residents How

    July 05, 2018 |

    Governing |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

    Even as cities fight gentrification, residents are often consulted late in urban planning, if at all. Cat Goughnour is pushing for change in Portland. Her consulting group ran a series of workshops, resulting in community-generated ideas for improving the Albina neighborhood that wouldn’t displace longtime residents.

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  • How philanthropy breathed new life into a forgotten Salford suburb

    July 04, 2018 |

    The Guardian |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United Kingdom, Salford

    A multi-millionaire has poured money into his home suburb of Irlam, buying up empty stores, funding public art projects, and supporting the town center, sports center, health clinic, and train station. Employment is up, but this model of urban renewal raises ethical questions and may not be easily replicable.

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  • Always Under Construction

    June 26, 2018 |

    Slate |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

    To resolve road construction communications with frustrated drivers, the New Orleans government developed RoadWork NOLA - an app that showed planned road construction. Unfortunately, no one was using it. Instead of giving up on their idea of a solution, they decided to embark on a plan to make it better through project iteration and human-centered design.

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  • Federal Tax Credits and Local Dollars Keeping Akron Downtown Lively

    June 26, 2018 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Akron, Ohio

    The Akron Community Revitalization Fund has already invested in the development of downtown Akron, a city once known for rubber manufacturing but now working to redefine itself. The revolving loan fund is comprised of funding from grant-making organizations, banks, and a New Markets Tax Credit. It aims to jumpstart more private investment into the city, including Northside Marketplace, a new hotel, and office space.

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  • Youth prisons are standing empty, but are a huge opportunity

    June 19, 2018 |

    FastCompany |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States

    Across the country municipalities are repurposing former juvenile detention centers as juvenile incarceration rates have declined and remaking them as places of healing. Each community is different in its approach, with some even knocking down the buildings to start anew, but the Urban Institute found that successful transitions had several core strategies in common, including seeking input from local community members and from those who had been incarcerated in the facilities.

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