The home of Walmart and the University of Arkansas could be poised to see growth as cities like Austin and Boise become less affordable.
As Austin's population and housing costs continue to rise dramatically, Conor Sen argues that Northwest Arkansas, an eight-hour drive from the Texas capital, could be the next region to experience similar growth. According to Sen, "Northwest Arkansas has both idiosyncratic and macro factors that make it a logical heir to the role played by Austin for so long."
The area Sen is referencing includes four of the state's ten biggest cities: Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, and Rogers, and is home to the University of Arkansas and the headquarters of Walmart. Thanks in part to funding provided by Walmart's Walton family, downtown Bentonville is being transformed "into a walkable, amenity-filled campus" that features 37 miles of multi-use trails and a world-class art museum. To Sen, these are exactly the kind of amenities that millennials seeking out affordable living outside major cities will be drawn to.
With cities like Austin becoming more expensive, Sen believes that the spillover will drive people to seek new opportunities–and that Northwest Arkansas could be one of the first places to benefit.
FULL STORY: The Next Austin? How About Arkansas. Seriously.
Housing Scarcity in Rural America
With the growth of ‘Zoom towns’ and the sharply rising demand for small-town living, rural communities are facing pressure to maintain housing affordability for long-time residents and boost housing production.
Tech Jobs Could Be Dispersing Away From 'Superstar' Cities
The rise of remote work and a need for new talent may be pushing tech companies away from their traditional hubs, but 'superstar' cities continue to lead the way.
How Remote Work Could Reshape American Cities
If projections about remote work hold true, the resulting migration could shift economic centers, disperse housing market pressures, and transform the politics of small communities.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
