Community / Economic Development

Saving America's Small Cities
Small cities are an asset to the country, so politicians and thinkers on the left and right would do well to stop calling for their inhabitants to flee, Henry Garbar argues in Slate.

Mapping the Fastest Growing Companies in the United States
Here's a helpful tool for understanding economic growth.

What Community-Based Zoning Enforcement Looks Like in South Central Los Angeles
Passion for urban planning, love of South Central LA communities, and historical background of the neighborhoods combine in this personal account by Jonathan P. Bell of community-based zoning enforcement.

When the U.S. Economy Is 'Too Strong' to Spend on Infrastructure
A low unemployment rate means major investments by the federal government could ultimately harm the economy.

Why Housing Messaging Backfires
Despite decades of our raising the issue of displacement in the face of rising rents, many Americans still do not see this as a call-to-action or a failure of public policy. Here is why our housing messaging may be backfiring.

Super Bowl Will Highlight Stadium's Surrounding Urban Development
Urbanists and planners might consider looking at the development outside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Super Bowl Sunday. Gone are the vast parking lots surrounding the Metrodome, replaced with mixed use and a popular park, the Commons.
How Long Do People Stay in Assisted Housing Programs?
Low-income renters are requiring longer periods of rental assistance, and the trends show housing costs are a leading cause.

Death Warrant Signed for Austin's Graffiti Park
The Hope Outdoor Galley, as Graffiti Park is officially known, will relocate to a decidedly less central location.

NIMBYs, but for Rats
Neighborhood groups around Detroit are taking the city's rat problem into their owns hands.

Value Capture Takes Prominent but Controversial Role in Fixing New York Subway
Value capture, collecting tax increment from subway adjacent properties to help provide money needed to repair the 114-year old subway system, is proposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and opposed by the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

'America’s First Climate Refugees' Are Still on the Island
The 99 residents of Isle de Jean Charles have $48 million to relocate together, but that doesn’t make it easy.
A $48 Million Bet on the 'L.A. Model' of Juvenile Justice
With Campus Kilpatrick, Los Angeles County has made a serious investment in progressive design to support progressive programming.

Cleveland Still Experiencing Fallout From Great Recession
National economic indicators may look good, but some areas are still clawing their way back from the 2008 recession. Cleveland's Slavic Village, an "epicenter" of the foreclosure crisis, is one of them.

A Planning and Economic Development Quandary in Fresno
Should cities with some of the worst air pollution in the country be adding massive campuses for logistics and heavy industries?

New York MTA to Spend $4 Billion for New Subway Cars
Over 1,600 new subway cars may be ordered, a minimum of 200 with open gangways, by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The first 500 will be purchased from the Japanese company, Kawasaki, to be assembled in Yonkers and Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mapping the LGBTQ-Friendliness of the World's Cities
A colorful data visualization tool maps information about which cities have the most protections for LGBTQ people in place. The tool is intended as a resource for LGBTQ travelers.

Philadelphia Could Be the First U.S. City to Open a Sanctioned Safe Injection Site
Facing the highest rate of deaths of any major city in the U.S. opioid epidemic, the city of Philadelphia is preparing to take drastic measures.

Temporary Trailers Will House Homeless in Downtown L.A.
If approved, a City Council motion would mark a shift in how Los Angeles deals with a rising number of homeless residents.

Dollar General Unveils Urban Format Store For Millennials
Now proposing to add another 900 stores in 2018, Dollar General continues to rapidly expand throughout the U.S. However, their push for a smaller more urban format is something seriously worth watching.

Barrio 31 in Buenos Aires Holds Universal Truths About Informal Urban Places
A study of a poorer neighborhood in Buenos Aires reveals that a delicate balance of design, public space, planning, and access are keys to success.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
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Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions