In 1969, the super-polluted Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire. In 2016, Cleveland is being talked about as the sustainable city of the future.
According to Curbed, urbanists and planners at the U.N.’s Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development said that Cleveland is a “prime test bed” for initiatives that expand urban areas and protect environmental assets. The city boasts rich soil, ample water, and an up-and-coming economy.
Southwestern cities are too hot and dry. Northern regions don’t have such fertile soil. In short: Cleveland’s the “just right” porridge for an urbanism-friendly Goldilocks city. The key is crafting holistic plans taking climate change, sustainability, economic shifts, and immigration all into account to build vibrant communities that don’t put a strain on the environment.