The US Initiative

As part of the US Initiative, CEOs for Cities will convene urban leaders in more than a dozen major American cities to develop a set of new ambitions for life in cities and bold ideas for how they will be achieved.

On Thursday, September 16, CEOs for Cities, the City of San Jose and 1st ACT Silicon Valley will host the San Jose Brain Trust, a dialogue among leading local thinkers, artists and curators for a discussion about the role of art and design in creating the next generation of American cities. The event, which is by invitation only, will take place at the San Jose Museum of Art in conjunction with the 01SJ Biennial. Results will be reported nationally as part of a book, generously underwritten by The Rockefeller Foundation, as well as a promotional tour and national policy platform.

Questions? Contact Julia Klaiber at 202-525-5627.

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Although it has not always been easy to measure the impact of such quality of life amenities as parks, art and first-rate architecture and public places, it is increasingly clear that investments in these things have powerful positive effects on cities and their citizens. 

In addition to providing places of respite and recreation, green space has positive, measurable impacts on adjacent property values.  The sales premium on property within 100 feet of a park of any size is 24 percent.  Green space also enhances storm water management and keeps cities cooler.  When arts are ever-present, they encourage participation, which leads to a flywheel of other positive spin-offs, including more creative people who then attract more creative people, making places more interesting and diverse.  And the best architecture and design creates places that people love, places they want to live in, visit and come back to.

“Inspiring places” are magnets for people, becoming cities that engage their citizens more powerfully. Cities are increasingly being judged by their “quality of place,” as Americans choose the places they want to live based, in part, on their physical appeal and their vibrancy.

Investing in beauty, nature and art are among the most significant demonstrations a city can make about its distinctiveness – the unique and often intangible characteristics of a place that comprise its one truly defensible competitive advantage over others. These distinctions build affinity among a city’s residents.  And communities with the greatest affinity felt by citizens are those communities that are most successful and experience the highest economic growth.

On October 11-13, 2010, CEOs for Cities and the Central Indiana Community Foundation hosted the Livability Challenge in Indianapolis, home of the spectacular Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Working with a team of national livability experts led by Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land, the Livability Challenge explored the future of livability as expressed in the Declaration of Interdependence: We can enjoy beauty, nature and art every day.

In addition to producing big ideas and quick-start strategies for Indianapolis, results of the Livability Challenge will be reported nationally as part of a book, generously underwritten by The Rockefeller Foundation, as well as a promotional tour and national policy platform.

Questions? Contact Julia Klaiber at 202-525-5627.

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