"...while city dwellers make up nearly half the world's population, new research by the United Nations and other demographers has shown that for every two cities that are growing, three are shrinking. ... The shrinking city syndrome is leaving planners and city officials with, among other things, the challenge of preserving and reusing buildings with architectural and cultural interest. ... The problem is so acute that a group of researchers based in Berlin is holding an international competition to address it." (NYT; login: opensewer; pwd: iswatching)