Community / Economic Development

Arlington County, Virginia

New Virginia Tech 'Innovation Campus' Helped Woo Amazon to Arlington

According to an announcement by Virginia Tech yesterday, their plans to build a $1 billion innovation campus in nearby Alexandria helped win the HQ2 prize for Northern Virginia.

November 14, 2018 - WTOP

Seattle, Washington

Updated: Complete Coverage of Amazon's HQ2 Decision

The official news of Amazon's choices for its second location broke this morning, but hot takes were streaming in all day.

November 13, 2018 - Planetizen

Pilsen Chicago

The Problems With Tax Increment Financing and How to Fix Them

Tax increment financing (TIF) districts are common in municipalities across the country. However, the economic development tool is also poorly understood and often the target of criticism.

November 13, 2018 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Amazon Fulfillment Center

Amazon Makes It Official With New York and D.C.; Throws Another Curveball With Nashville

The reported selection of New York and Washington, D.C. as the dual winners of the Amazon HQ2 competition was officially announced this morning. Still, Amazon wasn't done with the surprises.

November 13, 2018 - Planetizen

Highway Interchange

Tools for Addressing the Suburbanization of Poverty

Suburban poverty is reading, here are a few ways to understand what that means.

November 13, 2018 - Build a Better Burb

Homelessness

Veteran Homelessness on the Rise Again in Expensive Cities

The news about veteran homelessness rising in expensive cities might come as a surprise, after years of reported progress.

November 12, 2018 - How Housing Matters

Vacant Properties

Land Bank Trends in 2018

An economic development professional shares three key takeaways from a recent conference focused on land baking practices.

November 12, 2018 - The Port

Chicago Parklet Andersonville

Chicago Parklet Designed to Be Flexible and Cost Effective

A newly installed parklet in Chicago is part of a larger program to engage the city’s public spaces.

November 12, 2018 - Next City

Center City

Philadelphia Project Seeks Diverse Array of Investors

A development project in Philadelphia is raising funds through a combination of Opportunity Zones benefits, federal tax credits, and crowdfunding.

November 10, 2018 - Next City

Seattle, Washington

When Amazon Happens to Good Cities

After the news broke that Amazon was reportedly going to split its HQ2 plans between New York City and Washington, D.C., some cities are left console themselves. A Planetizen opinion piece picks up the pieces.

November 8, 2018 - James Brasuell

Homelessness

San Francisco's Voter-Approved Tax to Aid the Homeless Could Face Litigation

In California, 60 percent of a public vote isn't usually enough to approve a new tax.

November 8, 2018 - Associated Press

Los Angeles

CDBG Funds Not Useful Focus for Zoning Reform

Linking zoning reform mandates to CDBG funding is not an effective way to change exclusionary zoning.

November 8, 2018 - Brookings

New York

Google Planning Massive Expansion in New York City

Google's plan to add 12,000 new workers in the city of New York is the second tech company bonanza for the city this week.

November 8, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Rural California Road

Rural Communities Connected Through Grassroots Mobility Services

California residents throughout the Central Valley struggle with inadequate transportation. Shuttle and ride-share programs are filling in the gaps.

November 8, 2018 - The Fresno Bee

Vote

Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Toronto Streetcar

Survey Finds High Levels of 'Social Capital' in Toronto

The first comprehensive look at social capital in a Canadian city reveals lessons for planners and more about what connects citizens to their communities.

November 7, 2018 - The Star

Subway Library

The Mysteries Of 'Social Infrastructure'

In his new book Palaces for the People, sociologist Eric Klinenberg explores the places—from libraries and schools to cafes and churches—where cities' social lives take place. It's a compelling idea but one that Klinenberg discusses clumsily.

November 6, 2018 - California Planning & Development Report

Seattle, Washington

Updated: Two Cities Emerge as Front Runners for Amazon's HQ2

According to leaked information, Northern Virginia, Dallas, and New York City were in the lead in the competition to land the location of the second Amazon headquarters. Now sources report the company will split the HQ2 footprint between two cities.

November 5, 2018 - New York Times

Solar Panel on a Wind Turbine

Energy Issues at Stake in New Mexico Land Commission Election

Unlike energy issues that will appear in the form of ballot initiatives on Tuesday in three western states, voters in New Mexico will cast their energy vote in their choice for state land commissioner, an arcane position with considerable authority.

November 4, 2018 - NPR

High Rise Construction

Seattle's Hotel Boom Could Go Bust

Seattle has added 2,550 hotel rooms since the beginning of 2017, with another 3,000 on the way by 2021.

November 3, 2018 - The Seattle Times

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.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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.