There are similar themes under other headings but it too belongs here. The trees that folks are asking for under "environment", the walkability and connectivity that people are looking for under "neighborhoods" and "urban design" are more than window dressing. Beautiful and socially functional environments attract both investment and in migration of talent. If we want to attract both, we will need to beautfy our main corridors (Main, 13th, University, 12th Ave North, even 32nd Ave South) to begin, and connect them with the social life of our city. For the widest roads, this means "Reburbing" them to reduce the distance between buildings to human scale (http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/04/sprawl-building-types-repair-toolkit/) cut back on our parking requirements, lose the billboards and add trees, cafes, sidewalks that are separated from the street- by trees or other, awnings, flowers... all of it. In so doing, the least attractive parts of our city in which we try to spend the least time will become an integral part of our city's social life, and by extension, places that we celebrate.

There is a great article (below) that describes how *ugliness* -not taxes or regulations- in lower Michigan is driving away talent, and as a result, business. (Having spent 4 years in Lansing, I'd say that the pictures are typical for the south central and south eastern part of the state.) Nobody wants to live there. And the sooner we restructure and beutify our most visible and least attractive corridors, the better we support our economy.

http://rustwire.com/2011/03/11/michigan-business-owner-soul-crushing-sprawl-driving-us-away/