Issue Date: July 18, 2004

Cities that are special

What makes these five unique will surprise you.

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Everyone knows Miami Beach, L.A. and New York are cool. But what about cities that fall beneath the cool radar -- cities just as fabulous in their way, but not so well-known?

A growing movement among more "creative cities" touts the importance of attracting sculptors, singers, scientists and software developers. The guru of this concept is Richard Florida, author of the best seller "The Rise of the Creative Class ... and How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life." "We're talking about cities that harness the creative energy of all their people -- not just entrepreneurs," Florida says. "If a place is really creative, it becomes energized. That's the key to a city's success." Here is his take on what makes five emerging cities hot ... or, rather, creatively cool.

Detroit: It's majestic. One of author Florida's favorite cool spots in the Motor City is the Majestic Theater, a hip venue that hosts blues, rock, reggae, jazz and world-beat concerts. It's also home to the annual Hamtramck Blowout music festival, which "reflects the power of Detroit's ability to create and re-create musical styles," Florida says. Most people don't associate the gritty metropolis with cool, but its long love affair with the music industry has bound the community together. "Detroit has been the incubator for some of the greatest music in the world -- from Aretha Franklin to Iggy Pop, Eminem, Kid Rock and the White Stripes." The city's original Majestic, built in 1913, has been expanded in recent decades to include a block of restaurants, clubs, bars and billiards. "For a city that's gone through the ravages of decay ... it's a symbol of revitalization and restoration," Florida says.

Oakland: A matrix revolution. High crime rates and a seriously uncool downtown kept 20-somethings and entrepreneurs out of Oakland for decades. But now the city is emerging from the shadow of its more glamorous Bay Area siblings and earning a reputation as the digital animation capital of the universe. It can thank famously geeky companies like Pixar for the rebirth. But the propeller-head industry that produced "Star Wars," "The Matrix," "Shrek" and "Monsters, Inc.," actually grew out of the diversity and innovative ideas spawned by Oakland's political movements of the 1960s. "Oakland is a port of entry that's always valued the creative contributions of its people," Florida says.

Asheville, N.C.: Art savvy turns high-tech. After decades of paying back Depression-era bonds and liabilities, the city started investing modestly in creating a place where artists, poets, musicians and other creative types would want to live. Asheville became known as "the Paris of the South" for its arts traditions and now boasts some 50 art galleries, interspersed with antiques stores, secondhand shops, coffeehouses, eateries and bookstores. But now they want more: The city is using its arts savvy to attract high-tech and high-wage businesses -- in an unconventional setting. "People are picking Asheville as a destination, and it shows you don't need to build convention centers and industrial parks," Florida says. "There's another path, and that's to invest in arts and culture, and make your city a place where people want to live and work."

Denver: A stout mayor. Who would have thought a microbrewery owner with zero political experience could be elected mayor of a major city? Dreams really can come true, as John Hickenlooper discovered when he moved to the front of Denver's class in 2003. What's it all mean? Florida says Hickenlooper "represents a new breed of mayors coming from outside traditional politics." His campaign captured the essence of Denver. "He aimed his message at artists, musicians, minorities and young people, and he said, 'Come on board with me, and I'll invest in the creativity of this city.' And he won."

Providence: A baptism of fire. Author Florida visits the "Renaissance City" for the flickering bonfires of WaterFire, an award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans on the rivers that meander through downtown. But this creation ventures beyond art into the realm of the sacred and inspirational. "Providence was an old, declining industrial town nobody wanted to visit," says Florida, who credits former mayor Vincent Cianci Jr. (who was convicted of corruption in 2002) and current mayor David Cicilline with shepherding the city's renovation. "Now it's a lifestyle destination ... a seamless work-live-learn-play community." Under Cianci's direction, the asphalt that covered the rivers for many years was ripped up to make way for cobblestone paths, graceful bridges and, of course, WaterFire, which draws visitors from spring through fall. "It's a spiritual, meditative experience, which shows the power of these events to inspire people," Florida says. W

Jane Louise Boursaw is part of the creative class in Traverse City, Mich.