Community / Economic Development
Metro Monitor 2020 Report Identifies Uneven Growth Around the United States
A record period of U.S. economic prosperity has reshaped the economy of the U.S., in particularly obvious patterns at the metropolitan level. A new Brookings report details the way metro areas have changed.
Debating Public Incentives for Private Developments
A debate common in growing cities around the country is taking place in Atlanta in answer to the question of how much support private developers need from the public.
Beloved Businesses Should Not Struggle Silently
The demise of local businesses reached a crisis point long ago. To survive, they must resort to desperate measures—by actually asking for help. If they don't, the urban fabric will suffer.
Intercity and Intracity Data on Homelessness Needed for Effective Policies, Study Says
A broader evidence base can more effectively evaluate policies for preventing and ending homelessness, according to a recent study published by Housing Policy Debate.
How Shrinking Cities Are 'Right Sizing'
Case studies in dealing with population loss from Ohio, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Friday Eye Candy: A Sorely-Needed Map of New York City Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods don't get the same official boundaries as cities, counties, states, and countries. So how do we know where one neighborhood ends and another begins?
Latest San Francisco Bike Battlefront: Valencia Street
With most private auto traffic banned on Market Street in downtown, a battle is brewing in the Mission District between Valencia Street merchants, led by a bike store owner, and cyclists who support converting a bike lane into a cycletrack.
California's Piecemeal Progress on Housing Production
California Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Tara Barauskas dive into the barriers to affordable housing in California and whether recent legislation streamlining local planning, zoning, and permitting processes.
No Late-Night Tacos in My Backyard
Neighborhood veto power can conflict with citywide goals to provide a 24-7 urban experience, as a case study from Boston shows.
What Determines the Public Health Outcomes of Cities?
There's no one no defining attribute that determines whether a city is healthy or not, as a growing and evolving body of research shows.
Dollar Stores and Grocery Stores
Opponents of dollar stores argue that dollar stores are the mortal enemy of grocery stores. Is this really true?
Neighborhood Preference Splits on Partisan Lines
Preferences in the characteristics of communities—from the shape of the built environment to demographics—reveal stark partisan preferences. Planners are faced with the task of navigating ideological divides.
Bloomberg Comments Put Redlining, Recession Back in the Spotlight
Some of the opinions of Michael Bloomberg, billionaire candidate for president, haven't aged well since his time as the mayor of New York City.
Local Restrictions on Dollar Stores Gaining Popularity
Cities and counties all over the South are restricting further development of dollar stores.
The State of Public Meetings
Dating back to a tradition begun in the 1630s, public meetings are an essential part of the political systems, and planning processes, of U.S. cities. Public meetings are also broken, according to this article.
Analysis: Parking Won't Save Struggling Commercial Corridors
Research suggests that more and more parking won't solve the woes of struggling commercial corridors, even if it's difficult for business owners located on those corridors to believe.
Making Space for Corner Stores
Too many cities lack a legal way for corner stores to be planned or built—despite the obvious benefits of the use to neighborhoods.
Debating Improvements to the Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 was the final of a suite of federal laws aimed at fighting racial segregation in housing. Congress is beginning to consider how best to modernize the act to meet the challenges of contemporary times.
Prefabricated, Mixed-Use Project Proposed in Downtown Anchorage
The first mixed-use hotel and apartment project in downtown Anchorage, Alaska will use prefabricated rooms and is expected to start construction this spring.
Tax on High Earners Proposed to Fund Homeless Services in Seattle's King County
The Washington State Legislature is proposing a type of tax that the city of Seattle tried, and failed, to implement a few years go.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
