Midwest Metro Musings, #1

Let's explore the urbanism issues being tackled in the nation's middle ground.

Historic structures in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Source: gettyimages.com

I’ve said for years that the issues that plague Midwestern cities, and the successful strategies they’ve employed, have gone unnoticed as the cities of the east and west coasts have pulled away economically and culturally. What’s hurting Midwestern cities isn’t always the same thing that’s hurting coastal cities; what works in the Midwest isn’t always what could or would work on the coasts, either.

In my last post on Christmas Eve, I said I would endeavor to produce more content on activities in the major metros throughout the Midwest. I want to draw attention to what’s happening the region that is America’s middle ground.

Today, I’m starting a new series I’m calling Midwest Metro Musings. It’s the start of my focus on what’s going on in the 17 largest combined statistical areas (CSAs) with more than one million people in the Midwest. This isn’t intended to be comprehensive; it’s a glimpse, a snapshot of things happening in so-called flyover country. This piece will cover the nine smallest of the 17 major metros I’ll cover. This weekend I’ll highlight the eight largest, in ascending order: Columbus, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit and Chicago.

Please offer your comments on these musings. Are they representative of what’s going on in your metro? Please let me know. Here we go.

Omaha: A spurt in the development of arts, entertainment and recreational activities in downtown Omaha is leading to better post-pandemic recovery than many of its peer Midwestern cities:

“O)verall, Omaha’s downtown has bounced back better than most others since the pandemic, according to a University of Toronto study of 55 American downtowns.

“What’s leading its recovery is actually this nighttime weekend activity … arts, entertainment, restaurants, residents,” said Karen Chapple, director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto.

Local officials and researchers credit ongoing development with aiding Omaha’s post-pandemic resurgence, even as some have raised concerns about the incentives used to spur much of that redevelopment.

In the past three years, downtown has welcomed a new concert venue, a state-of-the-art science center and three renovated parks spanning 72 acres between the riverfront and historic Old Market. Once dormant office buildings are becoming condos and several massive development projects are underway.”

Dayton: Dayton (and its neighbor Cincinnati) are seeking ways to add to the housing inventory they’ll need to support an expected population growth of 500,000 over the next 25 years. Addressing blighted and abandoned structures is a big part of Dayton’s strategy:

“Dayton faces a need for more quality and deeply affordable housing.  Following a multi-year housing needs assessment, Gem City leaders are moving incrementally to create healthier neighborhoods and encourage more quality housing. 

Right now, Dayton’s using American Recovery Act money, along with other state funds, to stabilize neighborhoods. To do this, it’s working to remove the blight of vacant buildings, and investing in renovations and repairs. Part of the work is in partnership with the Montgomery County Land Bank.  

“We have a plan, five-year plan, and we’re in year three to remove about 1,100 blighted structures. And so, that’s really very exciting because the more blight we take out, it helps stabilize, but it also helps create opportunity for backfill or for other things to come onto the horizon,” says (Dayton City Manager Shelly) Dickstein.

The land bank also got state money to tear down 151 blighted properties. This is in addition to more than 1,000 nuisance properties Dayton is demolishing using COVID relief money.”

Rochester: High rates of crime in some portions of Rochester does not – and should not – define the entire city:

“Most of the people I know who live or have lived in Rochester have also never experienced anything resembling the supposed foregone conclusion that being in any part of the city means taking your life in your hands. I know a lot of people who live in Rochester, and I have yet to meet one person who has been shot or shot at to my knowledge.

(T)he pockets of violence that do exist are not representative of the city as a whole. Most neighborhoods, including downtown, are safe, especially during the daytime and early evening hours. Does that mean that these areas are devoid of violent crime? Of course not. Violence happens everywhere.”

Buffalo: A couple walked the streets of Buffalo every day, covering every street in the city, during the pandemic lockdown. They developed a unique perspective of Buffalo, captured in the thousands of photos they took. This entry focused on old neighborhood bars:

“We were familiar with Twilight Grill, at Thomas and Howard Streets, having parked many times on Thomas on our treks to the Central Terminal, just to the north. Twilight’s Owl mural is a lovely piece of work. Not long ago we went inside for the first time. No beers on tap, though one can see where they used to be. When we ordered bottles of Pacifico and Amstel Light, we were politely informed that “You know you’re on the East Side.” We settled for Labatt’s. The bar is closing in on 100 years of operation, as the woman behind the bar, one of the owners, told us. The current family bought the place in the 1940s.”

Louisville: Louisville’s Broadway is undergoing a “Complete Streets” transformation that turns the city’s notable arterial roadway into something that can be enjoyed by cyclists, pedestrians and transit users as well:

“Broadway All the Way is a framework which recognizes the need for a more equitable and inclusive transportation system — one that has flexibility to respond to the diversity along the 10-mile corridor.

Along Broadway unique segments were identified and each received special attention and public feedback.

During the initial master planning process, a vision for each segment was developed to illustrate the potential improvements and the massive opportunity at hand for Broadway to better serve everyone.”

Grand Rapids: Michigan’s second largest city just adopted Bridge to Our Future, completing a 2 ½ year long planning process. The plan is notable for allowing duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and accessory dwelling units in low-density residential zoning districts, and increasing maximum building heights in commercial districts.

“Grand Rapids is unique in its compact geography, leaving no room for sprawl and emphasizing redevelopment. The plan addresses the critical need to balance housing with the City’s shifting industrial landscape and economic goals.

Equity and inclusivity were central to the process. Through four robust rounds of community engagement, the plan ensured that all voices—especially those from historically overlooked populations—were heard and represented. Each engagement phase was designed to move from generative to responsive, building on the insights from prior rounds to ensure alignment with community priorities.”

Milwaukee: Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee is being considered for removal by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. But writers at the website HYFIN say the removal prioritizes the needs of the city’s white and affluent residents, and doesn’t do enough to overcome the trauma left on Black neighborhoods during its initial development:

“(T)his proposal has also sparked a conversation about Milwaukee’s double standard of urban renewal and the lasting impact of past projects on the city’s Black neighborhoods. While the I-794 removal aims to connect neighborhoods and create opportunities for predominantly white and wealthier areas, the scars left by urban renewal projects in Black neighborhoods remain largely unaddressed.”

Cincinnati: The story of Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is offered as a lesson in restorative urbanism:

“In 2001, the fatal shooting by Cincinnati Police of an unarmed black teen, Timothy Thomas, who was running to evade arrest in a dark back alley in Over-the-Rhine, was the latest of many instances of misconduct that brought about civil unrest, protests at City Hall, a national boycott, and reputational damage to the city.

It spawned a moment of reflection that reoriented city leadership, both political and corporate, to focus on what to do with the seemingly troublesome neighborhood next to the city’s central business district which is home to many Fortune 1000 corporate headquarters. That focus led to the development of a plan, the Center City Plan, and the creation of the Center City Development Corporation, commonly referred to as 3CDC.

Since then, 3CDC has invested over $1.7 billion into the urban core, with most of that going to Over-the-Rhine.”

Kansas City: Tenant unions in two multifamily complexes in Kansas City are entering their fourth month of a rent strike, in response to deteriorating living conditions. It’s considered to be the longest such strike in the city’s history:

“When Chris Carlton moved into his apartment at Independence Towers last November, his stove didn’t work, his toilet was faulty, and his tub took nearly a day to empty after a shower.

“This was my first time being a tenant and I already had pretty low expectations because of how much the rent was, which is only like $850 a month,” Carlton said. “I kind of took it for granted that that was just what I was going to have to deal with.”

It wasn’t until Carlton joined the Independence Towers tenant union earlier this year that he realized many others in the building live with similar problems, and they don’t have to accept those conditions.”

Here’s something readers should know. When I did searches for information on each of these cities, I did a simple search for each – “(CITY NAME) urbanism story 2024” – and linked to a story that was posted within the last year and was located on the first or second page of the search results. If I were to discern any trend in the links I highlighted, I’d say one certainly sticks out. Virtually every one of the metros highlighted is grappling in some way with the legacy of segregation. Whether it’s perceptions of violent crime in Rochester, what the removal of I-794 in Milwaukee really means, or Kansas City’s longest-lasting rent strike, that tension exists in every Midwestern metro.

I’m not surprised, and it’s high on the list of what Midwestern metros must address.