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
Livable city
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
A city in China wants to be the next Music City. Nashville is showing them how.
Share This Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Facebook Email Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest A city in China wants to be the next Music City. Nashville is showing them how. In recent years, a pipeline between music industry executives in Nashville and business and government leaders in Chengdu has quietly been developed. Sent! A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Subscribe Today Log In Subscribed, but don't have a login? Activate your digital access. Nate Rau, USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee Published 9:00 a.m. CT April 6, 2018 CLOSE A first-hand look at how the music, culture and cuisine of Nashville is finding a foothold in New York City. From the new Opry Café in Manhattan to the hot chicken … [Read more...] about A city in China wants to be the next Music City. Nashville is showing them how.
To find America’s most livable city, look west
If you're looking for a new U.S. city to call home -- perhaps one that lets you truly appreciate the infrastructural comforts of a mature post-industrial country -- try Honolulu. Hawaii's capital was ranked the most "livable" U.S. city on the Economist's annual ranking, coming in at No. 17. Washington, D.C., was the next-highest, at No. 30, followed by Boston, Chicago and Miami. Before they are ranked, cities on the list are scored out of 100, with 100 being ideal and 1 intolerable, and evaluated on factors like health care, environment, infrastructure and overall stability. Honolulu is in the highest position it's ever been in, said Jon Copestake, the livability survey's editor. But some cities stateside have lately seen their scores dinged thanks to police violence and popular discord. "U.S. scores have certainly declined over the last three or four years," Copestake said. "There's been a greater threat of civil unrest, and we've seen things like mass shootings and incidents of … [Read more...] about To find America’s most livable city, look west