NCBN scans the news for items of particular interest to community builders. For in-depth articles on the principles and practices of community building, check out Community Vision , the Network's own quarterly newsletter. The booming national economy and the growth of high-tech jobs have helped reverse decades of decline in America s cities, but the recovery has driven up home purchase prices at twice the inflation rate and rents at 1.5 times the inflation rate worsening an affordable housing shortage, according to a report issued today by Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo. State of the Cities 2000 report says growth in cities has been strong and sustained in high-tech and other jobs, business creation and homeownership. It points out that during the economic expansion, wage growth in cities has surpassed that of their surrounding suburbs.
Central cities are the major cities in a metropolitan statistical area.
The New Economy driven by high-tech job growth. The New Housing Challenge of housing costs rising faster than inflation, creating a record shortage of affordable housing. The New Demography of an aging and more diverse population and a declining middle class. The New Forces of Decentralization that are consuming land primarily in suburbs at twice the rate of population growth. In these times of good economic news and budget surpluses, it makes sense to invest in cities to help them create more jobs, more businesses, more affordable housing, and increased homeownership.