Not in our lifetimes?

A few years ago, Jim Moll, a real estate agent, turned to his friend Bill Baum, a developer, and asked whether anyone would ever sell condominiums on Vine Street, the epicenter of race riots here in 2001.

“Not in our lifetimes,” Mr. Moll recalls Mr. Baum replying.

But much of the area, including this part of Main Street, has begun to thrive again, five years after race riots brought redevelopment to a halt.—by Christopher Maag, The New York Times

Attracting the next generation: Cool cities initiative

Cities have long competed over job growth, struggling to revive their downtowns and improve their image. But the latest population trends have forced them to fight for college-educated 25- to 34-year-olds, a demographic group increasingly viewed as the key to an economic future.

The problem for cities, says Richard Florida, a public policy professor at George Mason University who has written about what he calls “the creative class,” is that those cities that already have a significant share of the young and restless are in the best position to attract more.—by Shalila Dewan, The New York Times

(From left, Bria Bryant, 25; Tiffany Patterson, 27; and Obi Ogene, 27, at Verve, a new Midtown bar and restaurant in Atlanta. Ms. Patterson, originally from Dallas, and Mr. Ogene, from Nigeria, are part of a growing trend of young people who are moving to Atlanta.)

Why tear these buildings down? It's social engineering

The ravaged neighborhoods of New Orleans make a grim backdrop for imagining the future of American cities. But despite its criminally slow pace, the rebuilding of this city is emerging as one of the most aggressive works of social engineering in America since the postwar boom of the 1950s. And architecture and urban planning have become critical tools in shaping that new order.—by Nicolai Ouroussoff, The New York Times

No child left behind? Achievement gaps remain, perplexing and persistent

Despite concerted efforts by educators, the test-score gaps are so large that, on average, African-American and Hispanic students in high school can read and do arithmetic at only the average level of whites in junior high school.—by Sam Dillon, The New York Times

Happy Thanksgiving?

—Mike Luckovich, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta superintendent gets big bonus tied to test scores

On top of Atlanta school Superintendent Beverly Hall's $250,000 base salary, her contract entitles her to a sizeable $68,266 bonus — about the cost of a teacher's salary — if she meets "reasonable, specific" goals.

This year, an analysis of 33 goals based on test scores and student attendance showed that Hall was entitled to the full amount. She also got the full amount last year.—by Patti Ghezzi, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New urbanism and noblesse oblige

There seems to be a growing optimism across Waco’s economic landscape, including downtown. For most of us, it’s been a long time coming.

I celebrate the positive things happening in Waco. But in the growing optimism, we cannot afford to forget the poor or think that everyone benefits just because some do.

Noblesse oblige, a term used to imply that with wealth, power and prestige come social responsibilities, must be a part of the strategic formula.—Jimmy Dorrell, Board of Contributors, Waco Tribune Herald

Waco is designed for drivers, not walkers. That has to change

Only 100 people crossed South Valley Mills Drive, from Speight to Clay avenues, during an eight-hour period.

Are those numbers a reason to downgrade pedestrian concerns along the thoroughfare? Absolutely not.

Pedestrian needs advocate Skip Londos points out in a letter to the transportation department that judging pedestrian needs based on how many people walk in Waco is “akin to counting the number of people wearing swimsuits on a busy golf course and concluding that none of the golfers likes to swim.

“The golf course was designed for golfers,” he writes, “not swimmers.”

Waco is designed for drivers, not walkers.

That has to change.—Editorial, Waco Tribune Herald

Health care is strong Waco asset; it can pay off further

The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce recently launched a new branding campaign for the Waco area, “Waco We Do.”

It touts the many different things we do well in Greater Waco.

Health care is one of those things — a big part of our economy. The chamber wisely wants to grow the sector even more.—by Dr. Roland Goertz, guest columnist, Waco Tribune-Herald