Community / Economic Development

Green Healthy Community

A New 'City Health Dashboard' for 500 U.S. Cities

The new City Health Dashboard might be the first time many communities have had access to a treasure trove of public health data at the click of a mouse button.

May 17, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Cupertino, California

Apple Could Make Northern Virginia a Tech Industry Powerhouse

Apple is pondering a major move into Northern Virginia. For comparison, state officials have pitched sites covering about half the desired size of Amazon's second headquarters and two-thirds the size of the Pentagon.

May 16, 2018 - The Washington Post

Bourbon Street Music

Do Amenities Matter?

Marla Nelson of The University of New Orleans and and Renia Ehrenfeucht of the University of New Mexico, guest blog about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

May 16, 2018 - JPER

Chicago Community Garden

Chicago Zoning Standing in the Way of Some Urban Gardens

It can be easier for Chicago's urban gardeners to grow produce than to sell it.

May 16, 2018 - Southside Weekly

recycled greywater

The Real Cost of Clean Water in One Kansas Town

Pretty Prairie has water with very high levels of nitrates, and lots of farmers that need to use nitrates if they want to keep the local economy going.

May 14, 2018 - Harper's

Houston

Post-Harvey Homeowners Face an 'Army of Speculators'

In Houston, investors are snapping up damaged homes that will be dependent on flood insurance.

May 14, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

San Francisco

Bay Area Home Prices Rise Despite Out-Migration

Kathleen Pender, business columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, points to two reasons why home prices rise amidst a Bay Area exodus to other states. On a state level, out-migration shows California's strong but dysfunctional economy.

May 13, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Roanoke, Virginia's Evolving Economy Moves Beer-ward

Once, trains dominated the city’s economy, now it's "brains, bikes and beer," according to city officials.

May 13, 2018 - Governing

Homes

On the Do's and Don'ts of Housing Policy

Brookings has put together nine rules for more cohesive and effective housing policy, despite federalism's tendency to create near-infinite local variety.

May 11, 2018 - Brookings

Los Angeles Homeless

Homeless Shelters a Tough Sell With Neighborhood Activists

A plan to streamline approval of a wave of homeless facilities in the city of Los Angeles is running into an early snag with an emergency shelter proposed for a parking lot in the Koreatown neighborhood.

May 10, 2018 - Curbed LA

Main Street bridge crossing the St. Joseph's River

New Revitalization Toolkit for Smaller Legacy Cities

Not every Legacy City has the size and cultural cache of a Pittsburgh or a New Orleans to aid in its recovery, but there are resources available for smaller cities examining pragmatic revitalization strategies.

May 8, 2018 - Greater Ohio Policy Center

Michigan

A $130 Million Infusion for Detroit's 'Strategic Neighborhood Fund'

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Planning Director Maurice Cox announced a major new funding initiative to support the city's Strategic Neighborhood Fund. Funding will support projects in seven target neighborhoods.

May 8, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Cleveland 4th Street St. Patrick's

Can Density Prevent Diabetes?

In Australia, a new study will determine the best ways to make high-density developments healthy places to live.

May 7, 2018 - Diabetes.co.uk

Seattle, Washington

Amazon, Seattle Go to War Over Proposed Tax

Amazon, a company with cities throwing money at its feet all over the country, has decided to halt construction on an expansion in its hometown over a proposed "head tax."

May 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Marijuana

Marijuana Tasting Rooms Would Be Legalized by Colorado Legislation

Colorado is taking 'baby steps' toward a thoroughly regulated regime of social marijuana use.

May 5, 2018 - The Denver Post

Governor of Wisconsin

Another EPA Rollback, Tailor-Made for Gov. Walker and Southeast Wisconsin

Politics and economics win over public health in Racine County as the EPA exempted the area around the Foxconn's massive facility from meeting stricter ozone pollution standards, saving the company from investing in smog-reducing equipment.

May 5, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Uhaul Trucks

Cities Need Labor So Badly They'll Pay You to Move There

Some cities are employing a "modern-day Homestead Act" to attract new residents.

May 4, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Housing Construction

Affordable Housing Finance: Show Me the Money

Ben Brown continues his weekly blog series in lead-up to the day-long exploration at CNU Savannah, "Affordability: The Intersection of Everything."

May 3, 2018 - PlaceShakers

New York Nightlife

Understanding the Unique Challenges of Urban Loneliness

Let's acknowledge that loneliness and depression is common among urban residents, and figure out ways urban planning can foster connections and social interactions between people.

May 3, 2018 - Kayla Matthews

Housing

It’s Time to Build New, Mixed-Income Public Housing

Interview with the co-author of the report "Social Housing in the United States," on the politics of home ownership, why public housing needs to be mixed-income, and providing adequate, affordable housing to all citizens.

May 2, 2018 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

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.