Community / Economic Development

The Philadelphia Design District Makes its Debut

Long a hub of creative workers in Philadelphia, a collaboration of companies based in the Old City neighborhood in Philadelphia has rebranded as the Philadelphia Design District.

April 11, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Suburban Sidewalk

Responses to the Suburbanization of Poverty in Short Supply

Low-income residents have scattered to the periphery, where social services are less accessible.

April 10, 2018 - The Washington Post

SEPTA transit map

'Jumpstart Germantown' Aims for the Antidote to Gentrification

A new program based in the Germantown neighborhood in Philadelphia aims to encourage community ownership of urban re-investment.

April 10, 2018 - The Philadelphia Citizen

Miracle Mile

Reviving the 'Miracle Mile' May Be Tucson's Next Big Thing

After tremendous success with a streetcar line, the desert city is considering strategies for investing in its historic automobile corridor.

April 9, 2018 - CitiesSpeak

Power Lines

Cryptocurrency Goes in Search of Cheap Power, Finds it in Small-Town America

Some of the least expensive electricity in the country can be found in Upstate New York, where cryptocurrency miners are starting to set up shop—with or without local approval.

April 9, 2018 - CityLab

Canadian Street

Eyes from the Street: The Neighbourhood Fabric that Matters

The mantra “eyes on the street" focuses on the physical and functional traits of urban fabric but fails to explain the high crime rate of my Jacobsian neighbourhood. Time to reconsider, look for explanations, and exchange mantras for research.

April 9, 2018 - Fanis Grammenos

Schools

Research Connects School Choice to Gentrification

One unintended consequence of No Child Left Behind: increased gentrification.

April 6, 2018 - The Atlantic

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco to Grant Low-Cost Housing Preference to Artists

A new program underway at the San Francisco Arts Commission would make it easier for artists to gain access to the city's stock of affordable rental and ownership opportunities.

April 5, 2018 - KQED

Ohio River

Ohio Announces 320 'Opportunity Zones'

The new Opportunity Zones program is one to watch as states around the country throw their hats in the ring.

April 5, 2018 - CityBeat

New York Vacant Storefront

Mayor de Blasio Wants a Vacancy Tax to Combat Empty Storefronts

The hottest trend in commercial real estate, letting storefronts in Manhattan sit empty while waiting for top dollar, is robbing the city's streets of the benefits of a bustling economy.

April 5, 2018 - New York Post

Tesla

More Bad News for Tesla—This Time From the EPA

A rollback of fuel economy standards carries huge financial consequences for the all-electric vehicle manufacturer that makes over $300 million annually by selling credits to auto manufacturers unable to achieve current fuel economy standards.

April 4, 2018 - Vox

Twins Logo Sign

The Cities that Most Resemble Each Other

A fun activity in city comparison.

April 4, 2018 - The New York Times

Brazos River

APA-Texas Acknowledges the Great Places of the Lone Star State

There are a lot of great places to celebrate in Texas, and the state chapter of the American Planning Association is in the second year of a program that calls attention to the role of planners in making them happen.

April 3, 2018 - Great Places in Texas Announcement

BART Train

Researchers Find a Model of Redevelopment Without Displacement

It's the "holy grail" of urban planning, say researchers.

April 2, 2018 - The Mercury News

Wisconsin's Foxconn Deal Inspiring Lots of Transit Planning

The msot recent proposal for new public transit to serve the Foxconn facility in Racine County: a commuter rail connection from Downtown Milwaukee.

April 2, 2018 - Urban Milwaukee

Springfield

Amazon Picks Springfield Over Quahog and South Park for HQ2 Location

The pundits got it wrong.

April 1, 2018 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Dilworth park

Big Philadelphia Parks Bond on Hold While Funding Debated in Court

The Rebuild initiative in Philadelphia depends on funding generated by a 1.5 cents-an-ounce tax on sugary beverages. The tax is in effect, but $300 million in bonds have to wait for a court decision about the tax.

March 31, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Skaters

Yes Sitting, Yes Skating, Yes Music

Where can teenagers hang out and be safe in public? Members of Yes Loitering, advocates for public spaces where youth can “hang out and be themselves” without fear of reprisal.

March 31, 2018 - Urban Omnibus

Downtown North Little Rock

Resurrecting the Classic American Main Street

In an interview, urbanism scholar Emily Talen discusses what it would take to restore "main street principles" to American towns and cities. Understandably, small retailers play a big role.

March 30, 2018 - Sidewalk Talk

Senior Pedestrians

AARP Announces 'Quick-Action' Community Challenge Grant

The program funds projects that improve mobility and livability "for all ages."

March 29, 2018 - Streetsblog California

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.