We always think of urban planning as the preparation for population and job growth. But, should some cities  plan for population and job decline?

Today, I was on NPR’s To the Point to discuss shrinking cities and the idea of planning for communities that are experiencing significant population decline. For today’s conversation, Flint, MI served as an intriguing case study. Some communities like Flint, MI are actively practicing land banking.

Take a listen.

NPR’s To the Point: Honey I Shrunk the City: Bold Ideas for Declining Urban Centers

“For years, urban planning has been all about growth. But in recent years, with the decline of American manufacturing, a whole new school of thought has emerged. It’s all about shrinking, not growing. As more and more metropolitan areas lose populations and healthy tax bases, guest host Sarah Terry looks at how are cities coming up with new solutions to control the change, instead of simply trying to cope with it.”

Listen here.

Profile here.

Should cities and communities plan for shrinking populations? Can this be part of a comprehensive economic development plan for declining communities?