Community / Economic Development

Like many other cities, there are condos a-plenty in Seattle. Developers are trying almost anything to get them sold. But the majority remain empty, leaving developers scratching their heads about what to do.

The ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan resulted in 1,262 artists temporarily installing their pieces in 159 venues around downtown. The public picks the winner.

Used to pouring resources into building new homes, Habitat for Humanity sees opportunity in the vast number of vacancies caused by the mortgage crisis.

Westward migration in the U.S. seems to be slowing, as jobs dry up overcrowding begins pushing people away.

A community of hundreds of people live beneath the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip in flood control tunnels.

The "go local" movement has proved so popular that it's become irresistible...for international mega-corporations.

Rural areas have been losing population for decades, creating what some are calling a "rural brain drain". According to this article, the hollowing out of these rural areas will have negative impacts beyond the borders of those small towns.

Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces was recently entangled in a dispute with architect Frank Gehry over the impact of iconic architecture in cities. Though Gehry's work has its moments, Kent says city emphasis on icons is a mistake.

As it prepares to host world leaders for the G-20 summit, Pittsburgh is hoping to show to the world that it's no longer a dying city.

Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, Ontario are a study in contrasts -- Ontario's a success story of good governance and planning, New York's the complete opposite. Rob Gurwitt has the story.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has a remarkable record of grassroots anti-poverty and community development campaigns, writes David Morris.

James Howard Kunstler criticizes a recent New Yorker article that failed to consider the American pattern of suburban development as the cause of the banking crisis.

Last Friday was Park(ing) Day 2009, a growing movement where city parking spaces are transformed into miniature parks as a comment on public space (and the lack thereof). Here's a glimpse into Seattle's version.

Detroit's creative class is making the switch from designing cars to couture, as local boosters push the manufacturing culture into a new industry: Fashion.

Would one of America's most sprawling, auto-dependent cities take to the country's newest light rail system? Even its proponents were surprised by its success and its transformative effect on downtown businesses, particularly during a recession.

Despite opposition from businesses and neighborhood groups, the city of Des Moines, Iowa is intent on implementing a program to make local streets friendly to non-drivers.

Retailers like Best Buy, Kohl's and Apple evidently think the market is looking up, and are planning to open new stores. But, Retail Traffic Magazine reports, retailers are going to be a lot pickier about site selection this time around.