When the question of urban density was raised at a public hearing about transit-oriented development, Speck says he reminded people that some of the countries that have best controlled for the virus are exceptionally urban ones — Japan, Korea, Hong Kong.
Also, he says, denser cities have the most patents. "Cities exist because they solve problems," he writes. The Black Death didn't do much to slow urbanization and was followed in short order by the Renaissance. "So even though much of the ruling class has slipped off to their country houses a la Boccaccio, the future still lies in walkable urban places."
I want to believe that, too.
(From the Boston Globe via Jeff Speck's newsletter.)