Infrastructure Is Key Priority in President’s Budget. Last week, President Obama unveiled his FY2012 budget, which includes a strong emphasis on infrastructure. While the budget contains a five-year freeze in discretionary spending to reduce the federal deficit, the president pegged infrastructure as a catalyst for job creation, economic recovery, and global competitiveness.
Vibrant parks can serve as a catalyst for economic regeneration of urban areas. Amanda Burden, a commissioner with the Department of City Planning in New York City and previous recipient of ULI’s J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development, moderated a session with leading thinkers in park development across the country. Read about the successful efforts in New York, Detroit and Houston and how these parks have spurred development.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean with a current population of 11,224,321. Historically, its strategic location near the Gulf of Mexico and the Strait of Florida made it an important trading route. Its tropical climate and natural beauty make it a desired tourist destination. Unfortunately, the political climate in Cuba thwarts its potential to be an international city. Read what a group of international architects and planners propose for the revitalization of Old Havana.
