A city's vitality stems from the openness of its space and from the fluidity with which its inhabitants can move, interact, and coexist. This truth stands in contrast to current urban realities. The paradox of ownership of public space lies in its fundamental contradiction: while public spaces are theoretically owned by all, their accessibility, use, and governance are increasingly shaped by private interests and economic power.

Private interests shape public space through additional services and security, effectively creating tiered levels of "publicness" based on economic standing. This commodification of public space extends beyond physical access to influence who feels welcome and how spaces can be used.

Urban development operates within two distinct manifestations of capitalism. Creative capitalism drives innovation and democratizes access to resources, enabling new forms of civic engagement and technological solutions for community organization. In contrast, extractive capitalism commodifies essential human needs and concentrates wealth, leading to restricted access and reinforced social divides.

At AgoraAdvisors, we believe the challenge is not to choose between these two facets but to harness the innovative potential of creative capitalism while mitigating the tendencies of extractive capitalism. By doing so, we foster urban environments that are dynamic and equitable.