Bill Fulton
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futureofwhere.bsky.social
Bill Fulton
@futureofwhere.bsky.social
97 followers 28 following 63 posts
Urban planner and recovering politician pondering the future of cities, place, and "where" in the post-COVID world.
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futureofwhere.bsky.social
Can the mostly dead San Francisco Centre shopping mall become something more than just a hollow retail shell? I think so. My take on this in the San Francisco Chronicle #cities #sanfrancisco #deadmalls #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Why can’t anyone figure out how to save the San Francisco Centre? They’re thinking too small
San Francisco leaders won’t be able to save dying malls one at a time. They need a big idea for San Francisco’s urban district as a whole.
www.sfchronicle.com
June 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
"Even though we've become untethered, we must find ways to reconnect with what's relevant": Workplace expert/real estate investor Lisa Picardon on attitudes toward #workplaces and how that is changing #cities #urbanplanning #workplaces #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/even-thoug...
June 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Retail shops are in decline in many places, but in some situations they can still help revitalize #cities and #downtowns. But to be successful, the retail must authentic and intentional. My latest on Substack. #urbanplanning #urban #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/how-shops-...
How Shops Can Help Revive City Neighborhoods
Big urban shopping malls and office-supported retail are out. But authentic urban bookstores and catalogue stores are in.
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:40 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
he other day #NoahSmith said the solution to everything is more small-scale shops -- which he seemed to think could be regulated into existence. But it's not that simple. My latest on Substack. #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/build-more...
Build More Of Everything, Closer Together
Noah Smith says "shops" will save American cities. Nope. After Covid, the secret to vibrant American urban streets involves businesses that require face-to-face contact, like bars and restaurants
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
When I posted an item on h college towns, the The @WSJ published a story about how they're dying. The truth is that some of them are struggling, but the flagship college towns are thriving. A. #collegetowns #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/some-colle...
Some College Towns Are On "The Wrong Side Of Where"
Towns that host mid-market colleges will struggle in the future. But that doesn't mean the lessons of great college towns can't be learned by these cities and others as well.
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
College towns are great examples of successful small-scale urbanism. As demand for walkable places continues to exceed supply, we can learn a lot from college towns about how to shape the future of #places. #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/what-colle...
What College Towns Can Teach Us About The Future Of Where
They're dense, walkable, and high-amenity. The demand for that kind of town far exceeds the supply -- which is a lesson we need to learn and act on.
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Continuing my Substack theme of #Edgetowns, here are some tips on how to keep these beautiful and vulnerable places both #affordable and #sustainabile. #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
How To Make "Edge Towns" Affordable And Sustainable
We love living on and visiting "the edge" -- close to the ocean and other beautiful but fragile natural places. But can we really keep these places going in a way that doesn't break the bank?
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
People love to gravitate toward what I call Edge Towns -- settlements on the edge of something. From #MiamiBeach to #SantaMonica, these are compelling, dense and walkable. But they are unaffordable and e fragile. #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/the-lure-o...
The Lure Of The Edge Town
People like hanging out on the edge of something compelling, like an ocean. But how can we make sure "edge towns" are both sustainable and affordable?
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
I've always liked #Rockville as a kind of next-gen suburb that developed a real center. Proud that my nephew's the city's leading pedestrian advocate and his wife's on the City Council. #cities #suburbs #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

www.cnu.org/publicsquare...
Rockville, a green small city built on transit urbanism
Rockville’s early New Urbanism and TOD puts it at the top of a green small cities list.
www.cnu.org
May 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
A revitalized #shoppingmall needs to be more than just a retail center. We need to do make these changes with intentionality, so the resulting #places are greater than the sum of the parts. Here's how . #cities #suburbs #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/how-to-tur...
How To Turn A Dead Mall Into An Urban Hotel
You can't just plug the retail gaps. You've got to blast past the retail mentality and be intentional about how you do it.
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Suburbs needs central locations where face-to-face activities can be concentrated. #Deadmalls can play this role -- but must be reshaped with an icombination of civic and private nthat create a rich experience. #urbanplanning

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/dead-mall-...
Dead Mall As Urban Hotel
The suburbs needs strong and dynamic places to face-to-face gathering. Revitalization of dead malls can play this role -- but only if the re-do is done intentionally and not just as hole-plugging.
futureofwhere.substack.com
May 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Streets in #urban areas work best when they're flexible -- when they can be used for different purposes at different times. My latest #Substack post. #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/the-flexib...
The Flexible Street
Even a dismal suburban parking lot can be converted into a pedestrian paradise for a few hours for a farmer's market or an art festival -- and people love it.
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Here’s an absolutely beautiful tribute to #home and sense of #place from my longtime friend John Krist, reflecting on the history of the land he grew up on, which his family is now getting ready to sell. This is why “#Where” is important.

open.substack.com/pub/johnkris...
A History of Home
Digging into the stories of humans on the land
open.substack.com
April 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Yes, short #urban auto trips are okay -- but #cities can also work on encouraging people to #walk and ride short #shuttles . Here are 3 tips for cities interested in getting serious about encouraging short trips without using #cars. #urbanplanning

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/3-tips-for...
3 Tips For Getting People Out Of Their Cars For The Short Trips
Yes, short urban auto trips are sometimes desirable. But with a little effort, cities can help people who live in urban neighborhoods find alternatives for running that short errand.
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
spent the weekend in #Houston -- not exactly a #walking #city but nevertheless in many ways a 15-minute one. I realized thatt while short #urban auto trips aren't ideal, they're better than long #suburban auto trips. #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/in-praise-...
In Praise Of The Short Urban Auto Trip
Driving eight blocks to get somewhere is better than driving eight miles.
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Last night, I gave a speech on g#urban development and #sprawl in Fort Worth -- and it made me think about how #cities are constantly growing both "up" and "out". #urbanplanning #fiutureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/is-sprawl-...
Is Sprawl Necessary?
Most cities are going to grow both "up" and "out". How can we make the "out" part of that growth as beneficial as possible?
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
I grew up in a small #factory town that was devastated by #offshoring. My hometown has come back a lot because of #manufacturing entrepreneurs. #Tariffs won't help. They'll hurt. #econdev #economicdevelopment #urbanplanning #cities #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/factory-to...
Factory towns in the U.S. have been coming back. Tariffs won't help them.
Places like my homeowner have spent decades climbing out of an economic hole created when big factories closed. But their revived manufacturing economies will suffer from Trump's new tariffs.
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
I like visitor-oriented #cities and #towns because they are high-amenity #places. Tourists are a very important economic asset. But overtourism and the short-term rental trend has changed their nature.

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/your-town-...
Your Town Wants Visitors' Money. But What Do You Do With The Visitors?
Changes in the tourist economy -- especially the rise of short-term rentals -- have made life difficult for tourist towns. Here are a few ideas about how they can manage the situation.
futureofwhere.substack.com
April 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Conventions and confereences create temporary Pop-Up #Cities in #Downtowns all across the country. They're not exactly Burning Man, but they are lively, crowded, and an essential part of the post-COVID cities #urbanplanning #npc25

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/the-pop-up...
The Pop-Up City
Conventions and conferences create a constant flow of Burning Map-type events in downtowns. They are a critical part of the post-COVID "future of where" for cities.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Cities should remember that they want #sports teams -- but they should not be sports colonies. Here are 4 steps to take. #ubanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/how-sports...
You Want Sports Teams. You Don't Want To Be A Sports Colony
The nationalization of sports is undercutting the ability of communities to use teams to strengthen their sense of identity. Here are four ways communities can combat the trend.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Aaron M. Renn is one of the most interesting conservative thinkers around today, and this is a really fascinating take.

www.aaronrenn.com/p/conservati...
The Four American Conservative Aesthetic Styles
The aesthetics of the groups that make up today's American right - and what they tell us.
www.aaronrenn.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Minor league #baseball teams are a waste of money for the #MajorLeagueBaseball owners who control them. But they're not a waste of time for the #communities who love them. My latest Substack post. #citiess #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
It's Time To Liberate The Minor Leagues
Minor league baseball teams are ia waste of money for the major league owners who control them. But they're not a waste of time for the communities who love them.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Remote workers aren't just people living in a community. They're also an esector that can be targeted in #econdev efforts. But attracting them requires quality of life and other factors, just like a company. #cities #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/remote-wor...
Remote Workers Aren't Just Individuals. They're An Economic Sector Worth Targeting
They're affluent and they seek a high quality of life. Economic development folks should go after treat them as a target just like a factory or a company.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
Five years ago, when the #Pandemic started, I wrote a blog predicting how #cities would be different. Remote work is still with us, but public health has faded from view and we aren't enjoying walking like we did then. #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/five-years...
Five Years Later: What I Got Right And Wrong About Cities After COVID
Remote work and Amazon delivery trucks are here to stay. But a lot of the other changes I predicted simply didn't materialize once we had a vaccine.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
futureofwhere.bsky.social
#Suburbs used to be bedroom communities. But since COVID, they've beocme workplaces too. So they need to be more diverse in the activities they provide -- and the scale at those activities operate. My latest #Substack post. #urbanplanning #futureofwhere

futureofwhere.substack.com/p/what-the-s...
What The Suburbs Need To Be "Workshops"
The post-COVID "Suburban Workshops" are fundamentally different than the traditional suburbs. Here's how they need to change to function well in the post-COVID world.
futureofwhere.substack.com
March 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM