Community / Economic Development

Banks Exacerbating Foreclosure Crisis

Banks and financial institutions are making the foreclosure crisis worse, as lobbying efforts seek to block bankruptcy courts from gaining more power to reduce debt, according to this article from Der Spiegel.

February 17, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Much Investment But Little Progress in Vancouver Slum

More than $1 billion has been invested in a Vancouver slum area, but little improvement can be seen, according to this investigation from The Globe and Mail.

February 17, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Vegas Aching As Conventions Pull Out

Canceled conventions are causing economic pain in Las Vegas.

February 17, 2009 - The New York Times

Protesters Killed in Battle Over Redevelopment in Korea

Violent activists threw gasoline bombs from the top of a building in Seoul, protesting forced evictions to make way for new development. Police stormed the building, and the resulting fire killed six.

February 16, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

An Inside-Out Mall in Mumbai

The 700,000k sq ft Oberoi Mall in Mumbai is an enclosed shopping center that also meets the street on the outside.

February 15, 2009 - Shopping Centers Today

Arts Banned in Stimulus Bill

Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma pasted an amendment into the stimulus package banning it from funding museums, arts centers, theaters, stadiums, parks, casinos or golf courses. James S. Russell says, 'starving the arts is suicidal.'

February 13, 2009 - Bloomberg.com

Reborn From the Crisis

In this thorough piece from The Atlantic, Richard Florida looks at the economic crisis facing the world, how it's affecting cities and regions, and how it will have a lasting effect on the U.S. -- in both good and bad ways.

February 13, 2009 - The Atlantic

Do You Live in a Miserable City?

The latest Forbes Misery Index sees a number of changes in the roster, with housing bust "ground zero" Stockton California at the "top" of the list.

February 11, 2009 - ABC News

New Deal Legacies Endangered

Buildings and homes built as a product of the Works Progress Administration of the 1930s are being torn down at a rate that some find unsettling.

February 11, 2009 - International Herald Tribune

Plan Brings New Vision To The Two Augustas

A new master plan for the Georgia cities of Augusta and North Augusta looks to create a unified vision for the area geared around economic development and new housing beyond the traditional downtown.

February 11, 2009 - The Augusta Chronicle

The Model Slum

According to Prince Charles, Dharavi, the slum featured in 'Slumdog Millionaire,' should be considered a model for the rest of the developing world.

February 11, 2009 - The Guardian

Broken Windows Theory Passes the Test

To conduct a real life experiment with the theory, 17 of Lowell, MA's crime "hot spots" were cleaned up while another 17 were left alone. Researchers found a 20% dip in crime where conditions were improved.

February 11, 2009 - The Boston Globe

SF a Model for Casual Carpooling

"Casual carpooling," an informal system involving commuting with complete strangers, has taken off in the Bay Area. Passengers and drivers cite money, time, and the environment for its success.

February 11, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

Where Will the Money Go?

Now that the $838 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the Senate, where will the money go? Stimulus Watch has a breakdown of every project by state, and by type. Here are links to the transit, roads, energy, and housing projects.

February 10, 2009 - Stimulus Watch

All Aboard New Jersey's Gambling Express!

New Jersey launched a new express train service, ACES, to carry visitors to the bustling Atlantic City casinos from NY Penn Station. The trip will take 2 hrs, 45 minutes. Though there won’t be gambling aboard, each train has two bars.

February 10, 2009 - The New York Times

Making Redevelopment Progressive

Mayor R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis is changing the rules of urban economic redevelopment, mainly by not handing out large tax incentives to big businesses.

February 10, 2009 - Governing Magazine

Going After Graffiti

The city of San Marcos, Texas, near Austin, plans harsher measures to crack down on graffiti, including holding a minor's parents responsible and banning certain graffiti-making tools.

February 10, 2009 - Austin American-Statesman

Las Vegas Mayor Gambles on Downtown Revival Plan

Amid tough economic times, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman is pushing a broad redevelopment plan in the city's outdated downtown.

February 10, 2009 - The New York Times

Columbus Kills its Mall

20 years after the Columbus City Center opened its doors, the now nearly abandoned mall is slated to be demolished. The redevelopment agency plans to replace it with a park.

February 10, 2009 - The Columbus Dispatch

Renewable Industry Sags Due To Credit Crisis

The New York Times reports that the renewable energy industry is hurting badly in this recession. Lack of available credit is the main reason, and while the stimulus bill may help, it will not be the solution.

February 9, 2009 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.