Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic (and local treasure) Inga Saffron penned a piece this week about the "Avenue of the Arts," raising numerous interesting issues about the fickle nature of urban development trends. Have we moved into an era of more diffuse attractions? Do we still need narrow, carefully-curated central playgrounds when the whole city has become one?

As Saffron explains, The Avenue was branded during a period in which "arts district" was on the tongue of every planner in the country -- they saw a successful model in New York and wanted to replicate it. During a period of contracting populations, cities hoped to draw suburbanites (and their leisure dollars) into the city center. In Philadelphia, then-Mayor Ed Rendell hoped that by providing a glittering (and entertaining) showcase for urban life -- bars, restaurants, theaters, concert halls -- they could perhaps even spur long-desired residential development.

So, the city, developers and arts organizations pumped money into South Broad, and it worked. But meanwhile, cultural hubs bloomed in Fishtown and Old City. Experimental theaters opened in West Philly and Passyunk Square. Monthly Friday celebrations lured urban dwellers out of their homes and onto the streets in Mt. Airy and Mantua. The big picture became less about an arts district and more about a culturally-vibrant city with a booming creative economy.

It's probably a good thing that the grand "arts district" model currently feels so antiquated. Yes, people might still come to Center City for an event, but they are just as likely to come for a specific neighborhood -- for an interesting meal and a stroll. This way of what John D. Landis, chairman of Penn's regional planning department, calls "consuming urbanism" (or "the Brooklyn phenomenon") spreads those dollars over a wider geographic swath.

Of course, changing city planning policy can be like turning a large ship -- it takes time and initiative. There needs to be a shift from venerating that traditional definition of "the arts" to serving a more varied and dynamic cultural community. There should also be a renewed emphasis on maintaining arts programming and education in underserved areas -- hopefully some of Philadelphia's future playwrights, musicians and muralists will be homegrown.

Saffron calls out one great example of Avenue of the Arts looking forward, but then notes that old habits die hard.

"This summer's pop-up beer garden, organized by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on a vacant lot across from the Kimmel, drew millennials in droves to South Broad," she writes. "Too bad, though, that the agency chose to celebrate its anniversary with a cocktail party this week for the city's clubby (and elderly) elite, rather than a true, Philly-style block party for the masses."

It is in the interest of Avenue institutions -- as well as the city -- that they figure out ways to integrate traditional arts patronage and the contemporary rhythms of the city (as with the beer garden). They need to give young people affordable, diverse reasons to visit South Broad or they're going to spend their nights elsewhere.

LEE STABERT is managing editor of Flying Kite.