Moonshot

Paris's attempt to clean up the Seine for the Olympics is part of a broader global trend to clean up urban rivers and reclaim them as spaces for people, especially to adapt to climate change. Read more and see examples from New York, Copenhagen, and more:

Cities need more “missing middle” housing and walkable, sustainable neighborhoods. A new startup, Cedar, aims to help real estate developers build it. "Cedar is a bet on the future of North American cities," co-founder Kyle Vansice said. See why in our story on the company: https://lnkd.in/gtiwA2qf

Wondering what’s next in climate tech? Start here. We’re excited to announce the Climate Tech 25, a curated list of emerging #climatetech startups that are helping build greener, more livable cities and speed the transition to renewables. Congratulations to Felt, Tyba, Raptor Maps — Solar Software, Bloom, Cedar, Tangible, Upfront (YC W23), Enode, and many more. This is an impressive group of companies that are growing fast and already having a big impact. See the full list: https://lnkd.in/eWrPW3XD

Did you know that Paris has 5% of its public budget decided on by citizens, not city council? "Participatory budgeting" is becoming more popular in cities across the world, including San Francisco, Lisbon, and New York. Learn more in our story on the rise of participatory budgeting and the challenges it faces ahead, including an interview with Giovanni Allegretti, a researcher focused on the idea.

In a time of hybrid work and housing conversions, architects like Jay Siebenmorgen at NBBJ Design are designing flexible, adaptable buildings that can change shape more easily. Their new concept, The Regenerative Lab, explores how to design a lab building that, if needed, could more readily convert to housing. Developers, cities, and the environment could all stand to benefit. Learn more:

Why are technology entrepreneurs trying to build a retro, nostalgic city in California? We take a deep dive look at the California Forever project and how the technology industry's vision for smart cities may be changing. Read the story: