The Olympics: A Complex Catalyst for Urban Redevelopment

The allure of the Olympics is palpable and undeniable. Later this month, my home country of France will host an estimated 15 million visitors and millions more viewers of the Olympics (July 26 - August 11) and Paralympics (August 28 - September 8). This will be France's sixth occasion hosting the Olympics and I will be proudly present in Paris to admire the tennis players smashing yellow balls. Whether you admire the Games for their athleticism or national pride, they deliver a spectacular experience. People generally perceive winning the bid to host the Olympics as an honor. However, there is growing concern about the negative financial, environmental, and social impacts. The Olympics is a complex catalyst for urban redevelopment.

The allure of the Olympics is palpable and undeniable. Later this month, my home country of France will host an estimated 15 million visitors and millions more viewers of the Olympics (July 26 – August 11) and Paralympics (August 28 – September 8). People generally perceive winning the bid to host the Olympics as an honor. However, there is growing concern about the negative financial, environmental, and social impacts. The Olympics is a complex catalyst for urban redevelopment.

High-Profile Political Meetings and City Clean-Up Initiatives

All eyes are on Milwaukee this week as they host the Republican National Convention (RNC). Later this summer focus will shift to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. High-profile political meetings and city clean-up initiatives often coincide. Cities direct significant resources to reduce blight, beautify urban decay, and remove illegal dumping. While security infrastructure […]

Mega Events and Urban Transformation

Mega sporting events decorative feature image showing an AI generated scene of stadiums with a backdrop of an urban skyline and foreground of construction vehicles

As we approach major sporting events like the 2024 NCAA college football championship in Houston and Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, urban transformation initiatives and preparation for these events have come into focus. “There is perhaps no larger sports policy decision than the decision to host or bid to host a mega-event like the […]

Using ARPA Funds to Fight Urban Blight

Money falling from a partially cloudy sky over a dense urban landscape

To some, the pandemic may feel like a distant memory, but to many states and municipalities, there are still funding sources available related to pandemic relief.