The Tools Provided by Planning

As mentioned in Richard Florida's "Rise of the Creative Class", consumers have clearly and consistently shown an awareness and preference for the organic nature and originality of a place. With a trend for synergy between "lifestyle centers" and revitalized plans for urban growth and redevelopment, opportunities to allow redevelopment to occur in ways which reinforce the real character of a place should be cultivated and understanding market preferences is key.

Governing.com recently picked up on D.C.'s planning efforts that illustrated this dynamic.

http://governing.typepad.com/13thfloor/2007/05/yuppies_want_ca.html