Periphery Cities as Megacity Anchors

Post‑industrial cities bordering global metros can rebuild by deliberately reorienting toward logistics, niche industrial anchors, and pragmatic permitting tied to the nearby urban economy rather than chasing spectacle projects. The strategy emphasizes realistic anchor tenants, targeted infrastructure upgrades, and reputation management to convert geographic adjacency into sustained local jobs and investment. — If replicated, this approach reframes regional development policy: instead of headline megaprojects, federal and state support should prioritize anchor‑aligned permitting, rail/logistics integration, and local governance capacity in peripheral cities.