Reimagining Cities-Disrupting the Urban Doom Loop

Key Takeaways from the Case Studies What can be learned from cities that have experienced structural and episodic doom loops?

• Private Sector Leadership and Place Management: Turning around a walkable urban doom loop requires strong civic leadership and effective place management. While public sector support is crucial, redevelopment efforts are often led by the private sector in terms of investment dollars and leadership. Detroit serves as a key example of the need for private-public partnerships, a reversal of the more common public-private partnership— where the private sector takes the lead with public sector support.

• Urban Universities as Economic Anchors: Urban universities have become vital anchors for economic development and provide a market of faculty, staff and students that fuels the revitalization of walkable urban places. In the late 20th century, many urban universities were isolated from their surrounding neighborhoods, with either literal or figurative walls around their campuses. However, institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University in Philadelphia pioneered a new model of embracing their neighborhood. Pittsburgh also exemplifies how urban universities can drive economic development and city revitalization. In addition, redeveloping neighborhoods can have a positive impact on university rankings, as seen with the University of Pennsylvania’s rise from number 16 in 1996 to number 6 in 2024 in the US News & World Report university rankings. 59 A university surrounded by a vibrant and safe area is more likely to attract students and improve its US News & World Report rankings.

59 Frishberg. 2024. “GitHub - Frishberg/Archive-of-US-News-College-Rankings: This Repo Contains an Archive of All US News National College Rankings from 1984 to 2024.” GitHub. 2024.

30 Cushman & Wakefield