New Urbanism linked to new economy

High-tech wizards, nose rings, and the proliferation of “bourgeois bohemians” may all be harbingers of a renaissance in American urbanism, according to some experts. A recent conference in Atlanta, “The New Urbanism for the New Economy,” explored the link between the information economy and a growing desire for urban amenities. “Street life is an amenity you are willing to pay for — because that is what you don’t get in the cubicle,” says new economy expert Richard Florida of Carnegie Mellon University. “I’ve become more and more convinced that the New Urbanism/new economy marriage is really meant to happen.” Florida, who spoke at the conference sponsored by the National Town Builders Association, contends that attracting the most educated workers is the key to success in the 21st Century — just like access to trade and resources determined growth in the industrial revolution. “Those places that can attract the talent will thrive. Those that can’t are going to be like ghost towns.” New economy entrepreneur Charles Brewer contends that new economy workers would rather be in an interesting urban environment — but that’s not the kind of office space that is provided by developers. “I don’t think this is a temporary phenomenon,” says Brewer, who founded MindSpring, which recently merged with Earthlink to form the second largest internet service provider. “People want a place to go where they can be human beings and not corporate entities, and the response from the real estate industry has been slow.” While making good money, new economy workers also demand urban culture, Florida says. This is part of the “bourgeois bohemian” ethos adopted by America’s elite and their imitators — identified by writer David Brooks in his book Bobos in Paradise. The New Urbanism delivers the kind of diversity and community that bourgeois bohemians want, whereas suburbia can’t. The right cultural attributes bring competitive advantages, and vice-versa, says Florida. “People bring me into town and say they want to generate a new economy, a tech industry,” he says. “Then they show me the bad grocery store, out-of-date hotel, and no cafe. They cannot compete on those terms.”