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<br />scientists and engineers, university professors and architects. This "creative class," the term <br />Richard Florida-who penned two national bestsellers, The Rise of the Creative Class and <br />The Flight of the Creative Class-coined, are the intellectual assets of the new economy. <br /> <br />The mortgage crisis may be an early indication of why a New Urbanism strategy makes <br />sense. Those communities that are not attractive to the broader market of living preferences <br />are showing signs of potential long-term decline. In many locations around the country, those <br />areas that offer only "cookie-cutter" housing (often times expensive, but homogenous) and <br />only strip commercial at the major highway interchanges are facing higher foreclosure rates <br />than mixed use centers and walkable downtowns. Accordingly, the key to La Porte sustaining <br />its new economic development prospects will be a focus on the livability and sustainability of <br />Greater Downtown. <br /> <br />The key here will be activating a vision for downtown that will be embraced effectively by the <br />market under a master plan implemented through responsive city policies and regulations. <br />Some of the current policies and regulations support the recommended place-based economic <br />development strategy, while others do not. <br /> <br />Assessment of La Porte's Comprehensive Plan and Regulations to Implement <br />New Economic Development Plan <br /> <br />Generally, the Comprehensive Plan sets up support for the recommended place-based <br />economic development strategy. The current code, however, would need to build on <br />substantially the Main Street Overlay and Design Guidelines in order to implement walkable <br />urbanism in Greater Downtown, the key to the initiative. <br /> <br />La Porte's Comprehensive Plan provides support for the sustainable economic development <br />strategy recommended herein. The City's pronouncement of the following principle sets the <br />stage: <br /> <br />"We have the ability and the resources to shape a more positive future. We <br />do not have to accept a declining quality of life. By planning for the future <br />and involving the entire community, we can maintain the qualities and make <br />La Porte even better." <br /> <br />The keys to utilizing walkable urbanism to anchor a new place-based economic development <br />strategy are supported in the following comprehensive plan policies: <br /> <br />"Encourage an active, vital downtown with a variety of uses" (Goal 4.4) <br /> <br />"Provide an appropriate amount of land for various densities and types of residential <br />uses and ensure the highest quality living environment" (Goal 4.5) <br /> <br />"Develop a [pedestrian] network... through the La Porte area, including an <br />interconnected system of paths, trails, lanes and routes (Goal 7.7) <br /> <br />Forward La Porte Economic Development Strategic Plan I 2009-2013 <br />