Challenges that strong and weak markets alike share
Struggling Rust Belt cities in Ohio may seem a million miles away from tech-corridor creative class communities challenge-wise, and in many respects they truly are. Despite many differences, their common denominator is that neither is sustainable, not really; and in cases at either end of spectrum, this is largely because both lack economic diversity. Whether the scale is the city (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Buffalo on one hand, Santa Fe, Austin, Raleigh on the other), the neighborhood (Roland Park on one hand, and McElderry Park on the other), or the region, important sustainability issues require attention.
In many Rust Belt cities, the result is that it’s almost impossible to balance the municipal budget because of concentrated weakness in urban housing markets that have sagged for decades and pushed out their middle class . In creative class places, the result is that it’s almost impossible to trim the many off-loaded costs of resulting sprawl that owes much the power because of concentrated strength (see William Fischel's still utterly superb Homevoter Hypothesis), and resulting sacredness of certain value-generating cows (like height and open space preservation). The former's concentrated weaknesses have pushed and continues to push out the middle; the latter's concentrated strengths pushed and continues to do the same.
A major system challenge of course is that strengths and weaknesses when super-concentrated become self-fulfilling engines of their own. Genuine (fiscal as well as environmental) sustainability hinges on teachers not living far from doctors and janitors not living far from cops and college professors not living far from machinists, which is not an invitation to have another spatial mismatch debate so much as it is to decide how important the middle really is.
Does form matter? Of course. Height and density are an essential part of any middle-oriented discussion in a strong market, without which the revenue needed to achieve balance will simply be missing. Does product matter? No question. Yards and garages, enough space for kids, and modern conveniences are all boxes that have to checked for families to be a part of any community's future in any real numbers. But middle class flight from weak markets and an inability to buy into strong markets share the common thread of class and persistent race conflict, which is far more central to sustainability than gray water systems and farm to table plans.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
