The Changing Shape of American Cities

Luke JudayDemographics Research GroupWeldon Cooper Center for Public ServiceUniversity of Virginia

Old Donut

New Donut

Wendell Cox, newgeography.com

1. Good to be reminded that the bulk of population change still takes the form of outward expansion, but…

2. … the new donut is not a theory about population

“… as affluent citizens have moved to the center, they are doing just what their counterparts have long done in the suburbs. They have found that they can use zoning ordinances, historic preservation measures, environmental regulations, and other means to resist continued change, to control the appearance and character of their neighborhoods, and to stop densities from rising. In city after city, the old zoning codes have been downzoned time and again to reduce the ultimate possible population and prevent existing densities from rising.”

Robert Bruegmann

How to measure desirability?

When housing supply is constrained, the most desirable locations will attract the wealthiest and most educated residents

More strong examples:

Albuquerque, NMAtlanta, GAAustin, TXBaltimore, MDCleveland, OHColumbia, SCColumbus, OHDallas, TXJackson, MSJacksonville, FLKansas City, MO

Memphis, TNNashville, TNNew Orleans, LAOklahoma City, OKOrlando, FLPhiladelphia, PARaleigh, NCRichmond, VASacramento, CASan Diego, CATampa, FL

http://www.coopercenter.org/demographics/new-american-cities

www.statchatva.org/changing-shape-of-american-cities