Future of Cities

After four years of deep listening, collaborative research, co-creation, lived experience, and collective inquiry, I’m finally ready to share what’s been quietly taking shape…. This August, on my birthday week, my first book, Generation Regeneration, will be released: an open sourced, living blueprint for co-designing the future of our cities through #RegenerativePlacemaking. This book wasn’t written at people. It was written with them. It’s not just for architects, planners, or policymakers. It’s for anyone who feels the call to live more regeneratively—in your body, your family, your community, and the places you call home. Because the future of cities is inseparable from the future of how we live. Later this week, I’ll be revealing the book cover for the first time. But more than a reveal, this is an opening into the stories, questions, and frameworks that shaped this work, and the movement that’s emerging around it. Generation Regeneration is an open invitation. A shared language. A co-creative journey toward thriving places and people. If you want to be first to receive the cover reveal, deeper context, and behind-the-scenes reflections on why this book matters now, I invite you to subscribe on Substack and follow along on YouTube. Find the links in bio. This isn’t a launch. It’s a remembering. The Regenaissance has begun. #GenerationRegeneration #RegenerativePlacemaking #FutureofCities #TonyCho

Today, I’m honored to finally reveal the cover of my first book:
Generation Regeneration. This book was born from more than two decades of lived experience inside cities as they transformed. Watching what worked, what didn’t, and what was quietly lost along the way. It emerged from years of asking myself, again and again: What would it look like to build places that don’t just sustain life… but actively heal it? Generation Regeneration explores regenerative placemaking as both a framework and a practice: reimagining cities as living ecosystems where community, culture, and nature work together to create long-term vitality and belonging.  This isn’t about perfection or utopia. It’s about participation. Prototyping. Learning together. This book was not written alone. It was shaped through conversation, collaboration, and deep listening with an extraordinary network of practitioners, leaders, and community builders. I’m deeply grateful to the leaders and friends who have supported this work and offered their voices to the book, including @vishen , @dhdeegan , @danbuettner , and @peterdiamandis . And @greenleafbookgr for believing in this work and helping bring Generation Regeneration into the world. Generation Regeneration is not just a book, it’s an invitation.
A shared language.
A co-creative movement toward a future that heals. If you pre-order the book now, you’ll receive free access to a global summit this July, gathering thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to co-design what comes next together. This is just the beginning.
Follow along as we move toward the August release and share more of the journey behind the pages. 💬 Comment HEAL to pre-order and join the movement. Let’s build what heals for ourselves, our communities, and generations to come. #GenerationRegeneration #regenerativeplacemaking #futureofcities

Cities are more than just buildings—they’re communities full of life, culture, and innovation. As the world changes, we need bold ideas and sustainable solutions to make our cities better for everyone. That’s where you come in. By joining us in this movement, you’re not just re-imagining a better world—you’re helping to build it. Let’s inspire, support, and grow together as we shape the cities of tomorrow! Become a part of our community as we co-create a space for forward-thinkers and change makers passionate about shaping the future of urban living through innovation, regeneration, and transformation. Discover how you can join the movement today at the link in @focities bio. #FutureOfCities #SDG11 #SustainableCitiesandCommunities #UrbanInnovation #CreativePlacemaking #RegenerativeDevelopment #RegenerativePlacemaking #GreenCities

What if we applied the same intelligence to cities that nature applies to ecosystems? 🌿 Not engineered for efficiency. Designed for interdependence. Not built to move cars. Built to move people toward each other. The Indigenous practice of seven generation planning holds three generations behind us, the present generation, and three generations ahead in the frame at the same time. Every decision tested against its impact across 200 years. Most cities today are built on a 5-year financial return model. The consequences are exactly what you would expect from that mismatch: ➡️ Streets designed for people generate 3 to 5 times more economic activity per square foot than car-dependent corridors ➡️ Walkable mixed-use neighbourhoods carry measurably lower rates of depression, obesity and cardiovascular disease ➡️ Cities with genuine third places report significantly lower loneliness scores across every age group The data tells us precisely what works, soul family. The question is whether we are willing to build like we actually believe it. My Substack is where the science, the frameworks and the field work all live together… Comment REGEN and I'll send you the invite 🌿 #regenerativeplacemaking #urbandesign #futureofcities #biophilicdesign #communitydesign

Innovations in the built environment at work in PHXJAX. Today we received a Blue Frontier AC unit through a grant-supported partnership helping bring next-generation cooling technology into the district. Huge thanks to Blue Frontier and Gradible for helping make this happen. As we continue transforming historic buildings through adaptive reuse and regenerative placemaking, partnerships like this allow PHXJAX to explore smarter, more sustainable systems that support the future creative workspaces in Jacksonville.

Join us on May 14, 2026 for an evening of bold ideas, powerful storytelling, and meaningful connection, exploring how humanity moves forward alongside technology with intention, creativity, and purpose. This year, we’re proud to feature Tony Cho, a visionary entrepreneur and community builder shaping the future of cities through regenerative thinking. In his talk, “Paradise Found: Co-Designing Regenerative Cities of the Future,” Tony challenges us to rethink how we design the places we live—offering a powerful framework for building cities that are resilient, inclusive, and deeply connected to the people within them. From innovation to human resilience, our speakers will share ideas that educate, inspire, and spark new ways of thinking across industries and experiences. This is more than an event, it’s a space for ideas that push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible. 📍 New World Center, Miami Beach 🗓 Thursday, May 14 | 6–9 PM 🎟️ Get your tickets now and be part of the conversation. (Link in bio) #TEDxMiami#IdeasWorthSpreading #MiamiEvents

The cities of the future aren’t waiting to be built. They’re being reimagined right now — in underutilized corridors, in historic industrial bones, in the spaces between what a city was and what it could become. To bring the next phase of @phxjax to life, we’ve partnered with @liveoakcontracting to advance the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District — an 8.5-acre creative district in Jacksonville, Florida’s historic Springfield neighborhood transforming 120,000 sq ft of industrial & warehouse spaces into a hub for arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and community. Think creative workspaces, public gathering spaces, and up to 830 mixed-income housing units woven into a walkable, transit-connected neighborhood. Jacksonville is building something worth paying attention to. We’re glad to be building it with partners who believe the same. We’ve been sketching ideas and exploring the possibilities. What would you build here? Drop it in the comments 👇 Now leasing creative spaces → phxjax.com 📍 Jacksonville, Florida #regenerativeplacemaking #phxjax #urbaninnovation #futureofcities #jacksonville

Join the Future of Cities HQ at the Climate & Innovation HUB in Little Haiti, where bold ideas meet inspired design. This creative co-working office is built for visionaries, innovators, and changemakers ready to shape what’s next. Lease your space in a vibrant hub that sparks collaboration, fuels creativity, and redefines the future of work. Miami’s first aspiring net-zero co-working office in Little Haiti— the “HUB” is solar-powered, regenerative adaptively repurposed warehouse offering indoor/outdoor event spaces, podcast studio, wellness lounge & community garden. Connect with our team through link in @focities bio to schedule a tour!

This is regenerative placemaking in action: at the Liberty Building (next to @emeraldstationjax ) we’ve pulled up 100-year-old wood flooring, sorted what we can salvage, and stored it safely in the Bunker. Once the roof and interior are ready, that same wood will return, restored and repurposed, for the future home of @nakedkitchenjax . By reusing original materials and embracing adaptive reuse, we’re not just renovating a building, we’re making space for a new chapter rooted in sustainability, creativity, and community. Learn more at PHXJAX.com

The walls come alive at @emeraldstationjax , showcasing the powerful work of @BarbaraHionides ! As a dedicated art educator and visionary, Barbara weaves rich symbolism with thought-provoking themes, transforming her craft into a medium for storytelling and healing. Through public art and social entrepreneurship, she’s inspiring the next generation to reimagine their communities through creativity and purpose. Visit @emeraldstationjax to witness this stunning masterpiece in person! 🌸 #PHXJAX #MuralArt #CreativeCommunity #JacksonvilleArt #emeraldstation

“The warehouse is my canvas—a space to reimagine, regenerate, and breathe new life into.” – @_tonycho_ Adaptive reuse isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about sustainability, resilience, and honoring history while shaping the future. At @phxjax Art & Innovation District, we’re transforming Jacksonville’s historic warehouses into dynamic hubs of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community. @emeraldstationjax is leading the way as the first reimagined space, blending industrial heritage with modern innovation. Next up: The Liberty Building, continuing the revival of this once-thriving district. Join us as we turn the past into a foundation for the future & keep an eye on the phoenix rising at phxjax.com. Now leasing creative office and event spaces in the Emerald Station (Jacksonville, FL) —where visionaries and changemakers come to thrive. #AdaptiveReuse #CreativePlacemaking #UrbanRevitalization #PHXJAX #EmeraldStation #TheLibertyBuilding #FutureofCities

Future of Cities' expansion to Portugal explores what's to come for our regenerative placemaking project that is reimagining the workplace in Porto. Portugal has emerged as a global hub for innovation, sustainability, and lifestyle-driven workspaces. With its thriving business ecosystem, Golden Visa opportunities, and a growing community of forward-thinking professionals, our partners in Portugal are demonstrating a new model of workspace—one that prioritizes well-being, connection, and purpose. We believe the future of work is not about where we work, but how we work—collaboratively, regeneratively, and with purpose. Learn more at the link in our bio to become a part of this transformation. #FutureOfWork #RegenerativePlacemaking #Portugal #futureofcities #regenerativecommunities