Photo from flickr user JohnE777
The way that a city is made has drastically changed in recent decades. The post-World War II narrative of rapid suburbanization on the rural frontier fueled by amplified housing demand and a subsequent mass exodus of city cores is all too familiar. With the exodus of people came the disappearance of job-providing institutions, such as corporate headquarters and manufacturing firms. As the story goes, long periods of inactivity and disinvestment in city cores led to the demise of the traditional American downtown, once a hub for economic activity.
An Alternate Ending: Anchor Institutions
A 2010 report from CEOs for Cities provides an alternate ending to this narrative: city leaders and developers have started to pay greater attention to the types of institutions that wield significant influence as employers, purchasers of goods and services, and sources of creativity and innovation. These influential “anchor institutions,” a label developed in 2002 by Harvard Professor Michael Porter, have the power to transform a region.
Anchor institutions differ from traditional institutions because they are essentially “anchored,” they never move and are highly motivated to invest in place. They include some of the fastest growing organizations with major real estate holdings concentrated in the urban core: colleges and universities, hospitals, art centers, public utilities, and even professional sports franchises. With the decline in investments from government and businesses alike, anchor institutions have become desirable sources for leadership and development in city cores. The following examples have built vibrant neighborhoods around these valuable anchors.
Syracuse, New York
Under the leadership of Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Syracuse University has undertaken two mega-projects that are reshaping the city: the Near West Side Initiative and the Connective Corridor. University engagement is central to these efforts, and urban landscaping, outdoor, art, bike paths, and free shuttle bus service have helped to reshape these neighborhoods and rejuvenate the city.
Newark, New Jersey
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1997, was a successful attempt to help revitalize the city with a showcase facility that would be “in Newark and of Newark;” its employees, contractors, visitors, and programming would reflect the city’s diversity. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is the sixth largest performing arts center in the country and has transformed the city into a cultural, artistic, and educational center.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Medical Mile is located near the Grand River, in the Hillside District of Downtown Grand Rapids. With the establishment in 1996 of the Van Andel Institute for biomedical research, Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile was born. The “mile” has rapidly expanded to nearly five times its original size, helping to give life to a robust life sciences industry in Grand Rapids.
These “anchor institutions” have spawned educational facilities, as well as museums, restaurants, hotels and shopping centers. This map details the high volume of institutions within and around the Medical Mile. Some recent additions include Grand Valley State University’s Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids Community College Calkins Science Center, and Spectrum Health System.
Not only has Downtown Grand Rapids become a hub for biomedical research, but the Medical Mile has transformed the region into a destination with a dynamic and integrated network of human capital. CEOs for Cities’ 2013 National Meeting, The Art of the Collaborative City will be held right in the heart of this flourishing downtown area fueled by the Medical Mile.
Check out our exciting events and speakers, including a panel discussion of Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile. Register here to join us September 29-October 1.
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Jenna Chilingerian is a CEOs for Cities Summer Success Fellow. Jenna is a Fresno, California native and recent graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. Jenna received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Civic Engagement, and earned both College Honors and Summa Cum Laude Latin Honors. She recently moved to Cleveland, Ohio to complete a summer City Success Fellowship with CEOs for Cities.