Many of America's cities having been ravaged by several decades of Neo-Liberal economic policies are looking for avenues towards economic revitalization ie; ways to stimulate commerce in a way that will attract businesses thereby creating jobs and a strong tax base.
So far ideas have ranged from coordinating community events with the business community as well as offering various incentives such as tax credits and grants to new businesses. Since younger people with disposable income tend to be the market demographic these places want to capture the businesses favored tend to be things like salons, cafes, high-end liquor stores that kind of thing. So the consultants at least have some grasp of what needs to be done, but they're doing it in such a way that leaves too much to chance.
I say instead of going by the model "if you build it they will come" they should be just bringing them there and waiting for it to build up around them. I call this plan Lincolnparkinization. It's very obvious what the secret to Lincoln Park's success is; they happen to have a lot of attractive young people around filling the bars, cafes, and what not. So it's clear what's at play here.
Young people like to have sex so they will go where other young people they can have sex with are. I call it the watering hole effect. It works like this; you take a struggling city, let's just say Cleveland. You give a few dozen attractive singles rent-free apartments and stipends to go spend at local bars and restaurants. They will attract more young people who will spend their money at the bars and restaurants in an effort to try and meet and have sex with them.
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