ABSTRACT
In the opening chapter to The Millennial City, the editors lay the groundwork for understanding how Millennials are shaping how we live and plan our cities, and how planning from previous eras is shaping these patterns as well. The editors make the case for taking a generational approach to understanding the city, arguing that an understanding of the generational drivers of urban social and economic differentiation is critical to our understanding of contemporary urbanism and North American cities. The editors highlight the many contradictions faced by and embodied in the Millennial generation, particularly related to their economic circumstances, locational patterns and their overall economic and social welfare, especially in relation to previous generations. The major sections related to Millennial economies, housing Millennials, and Millennial mobilities are then introduced. A brief synopsis is provided for each of the subsequent chapters, which address planning for generational change; young adult labour and housing market transformations; changing transportation patterns arising from generational change; and the implications of generational change for the future of the North American city.
