Andrew Niedhardt is the founder of the group Walkable Albany, which hopes to impact city policy decisions. (Chris Churchill / Times Union) Andrew Niedhardt is the founder of the group Walkable Albany, which hopes to impact city policy decisions. (Chris Churchill / Times Union) Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Image 1 of 3 Andrew Niedhardt is the founder of the group Walkable Albany, which hopes to impact city policy decisions. (Chris Churchill / Times Union) Andrew Niedhardt is the founder of the group Walkable Albany, which hopes to impact city policy decisions. (Chris Churchill / Times Union) Churchill: Walkable Albany wants a more livable city (and planet) 1 / 3 Back to Gallery Albany Anybody remember when humans used their feet to get from one place to another? This mysterious activity is called walking, and most of us no longer do it enough. We're lazy, perhaps, but the fault is … [Read more...] about Churchill: Walkable Albany wants a more livable city (and planet)
Livable city
Ranked: The Most Livable Cities in the World
More of us are living in cities than ever before, and that number is only growing. A recent report from the United Nations (U.N.) predicts that 68 percent of the world’s population will be city dwellers by 2050, up from 55 percent today. Every city is different, with its layout, architecture, traditions and governance influencing citizens lives for better or worse. But what exactly makes a city more pleasant to live in is up for debate. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has its own set of criteria. In their annual Global Liveability Index report, they rank the world’s cities using “over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.” The result is a list of cities they deem the most livable, all given an overall score out of 100. The Australian city of Melbourne has reigned supreme in the past seven years, only to be knocked off the top spot in the 2018 … [Read more...] about Ranked: The Most Livable Cities in the World
Vienna Tops Survey As World’s Most Livable City
Austria’s capital, Vienna, has beaten Australia's Melbourne to be named the world's most livable city, BBC News reports. It's the first time a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey. The worldwide league table ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare. In the survey, Manchester saw the biggest improvement of any European city, rising by 16 places to rank 35th. Manchester's rise puts it ahead of London in the rankings by 13 places, the widest gap between the two cities since the survey began two decades ago. The EIU said Manchester's jump in the rankings was due to an improved security score. The survey was criticized last year for demoting Manchester after the Manchester Arena attack which killed 22 victims. This year, survey editor Roxana Slavcheva said Manchester had "shown resilience in the city's recovery from a recent, high-profile … [Read more...] about Vienna Tops Survey As World’s Most Livable City
Changing Skyline: New zoning code: Toward a more competitive, livable city
All right, there were times over the last four years when the process of rewriting Philadelphia's zoning code seemed like a pointless exercise, one as thrilling as watching Jell-O set. Debates raged over the tiniest details. The optimum rowhouse height? The perfect car-to-apartment ratio in high-rise buildings? Then, just as the final draft was being committed to paper in 2011, the project nearly blew up in the political minefield that is City Council. If the proverbial sausage-making wasn't always pretty, at least we can be glad that the resulting sausage has turned out to be reasonably tasty. The new code, which officially went into effect Wednesday, is a true watershed event for Philadelphia. It will simplify the city's development process for builders and homeowners alike and, by doing so, help make Philadelphia a more competitive and livable city. While its completion may not rate big headlines now, it is likely to end up as one of the Nutter administration's most important … [Read more...] about Changing Skyline: New zoning code: Toward a more competitive, livable city
Miami Beach Named As a Top Ten STEM City in America
—Recognized Out of 2,000 Cities by Livability.com — If asked to use one word to describe Miami Beach, a majority of people would almost instinctively respond with fun, sun or sand. However, the coastal community also proudly boasts STEM among its defining characteristics. The City of Miami Beach was recently named one of the Top 10 Best Cities for STEM Workers in 2018 by Livability.com. Led by employment within the medical professional, nearly 13 percent of all the jobs within the tropical metropolis are STEM-related. With a median income of more than $80,000, these valuable jobs pay nearly twice as much as the City’s overall median income. “Science, math, engineering and technology are no longer the so-called careers of the future, they are relevant and fundamental to tackling the most pressing issues of today,” noted Mayor Dan Gelber. “As we continue to combat climate change and work toward progressing in other key areas, our … [Read more...] about Miami Beach Named As a Top Ten STEM City in America