Building the next great American city

“American business and labor have come together to build the next great American city.”

“In most big cities, well-meaning planners lack the resources and incentives to eliminate urban gridlock. In California Forever, the investors’ fortunes depend on creating an urbanism that soars….

….an audacious effort to operationalize the last 30 years of research in urban economics.

…The comprehensive permit model should be extended to urban development projects of statewide significance, including California Forever.”

“California Forever is a promise to overcome the ultimate test of a declining society—both a bet that we can build a new city, and a bet that this new city can be built in the same location as our present stagnation.”

“But, for me, California Forever represents an existential moment for the wonderful state that I call home…Building a picturesque city where people can live close to their jobs and manufacture the products that they invent on underutilized land should not be controversial. It should just happen.

If we can’t let something like California Forever flourish, we’re signaling that California has lost its way, its spirit and its ability…”

“…if the project is approved and still looks like the current plan—two big ifs—California Forever could be a model for how to develop in other cities and towns…Such a project could foster a new mindset that enables mass urbanism again, making urbanism the default option rather than a niche, restoring an approach that served the country well for its first 175 years.”