Community / Economic Development

Aerial view of Kona, Hawaii.

Big Island Airbnb Operators Call for Economic Impact Study

As the Hawai’i County Council debates new regulations governing short-term rentals, it is requesting a study on how the industry impacts local residents and businesses.

July 29, 2024 - Big Island Now

Group of people standing around a table with food in front of homes during a block party.

Bringing Back the Block Party

How a humble neighborhood get-together can help build stronger cities.

July 29, 2024 - Strong Towns

For Rent

Rethinking Rent Control: Balancing Affordability With Market Dynamics

Explore the balance between rent control policies and market dynamics, analyzing how different models impact housing affordability and real estate investment.

July 25, 2024 - Devin Partida

Close-up on group of young people sitting at a table using their cell phones.

Leveraging Social Media for Citizen Engagement in Urban Planning

Discover how urban planners can use social media to enhance citizen engagement, featuring strategies for interactive communication and community involvement in urban development projects.

July 24, 2024 - Devin Partida

View of Ithaca Commons sign over pedestrian street in downtown Ithaca, New York.

In Upstate New York, the Fight for ‘Good Cause’ Continues

This week, Ithaca became the latest city to opt into New York’s new Good Cause Eviction Law. What are tenant organizers doing to make the law work better for their communities?

July 24, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

View of people sitting in lightly sloped green lawn with Spanish colonial-style building and cityscape in background in San Francisco, California.

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts

Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

July 23, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Woman taping up a brown paper package with rack of clothing in background.

New Jersey Bill Would Ease Permitting for Home-Based Businesses

The proposed law would eliminate the need for home-based business owners to undergo a review by their local zoning boards to encourage small entrepreneurship.

July 23, 2024 - 70 and 73

Fenced-in oil pump in residential neighborhood

Millions in California at Risk Where Oil Wells and Wildfires Converge

Those living near oil and gas wells face increased risks from wildfires, which threaten these infrastructures and could lead to explosions, pollution, and other hazards, particularly affecting communities of color.

July 22, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Night view of vintage theater with neon marquee in Bethesda, Maryland.

Opinion: Montgomery County Regulations Stifle Nightlife

The county hasn’t acted on the recommendations of its own Nighttime Economy Task Force, which suggested ways to improve the business climate for restaurants and nightclubs to draw younger residents to the region.

July 18, 2024 - Greater Greater Washington

Close-up of green neon Restrooms sign.

When Bathroom Access Restricts Mobility

For parents of young children, people with mobility equipment, and others, a lack of accessible public restrooms can mean limited outings.

July 16, 2024 - The Good Men Project

Group of young people enjoying group study at table.

LA County Summer Youth Employment Program Empowering Thousands With Career Opportunities

The Youth@Work program offers up to 10,000 paid work opportunities to marginalized and underserved youth aged 14 to 24, providing them with valuable job training, skills development, and mentorship.

July 15, 2024 - County of Los Angeles

Close-up of fleet modern electric EV delivery vans being charged in covered parking garage.

USDOT Unveils Strategies to Achieve Near-Zero Transportation Emissions

Three key strategies — reducing travel distances, increasing energy-efficient travel modes, and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles and fuels — are recommended to meet national climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

July 15, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Defunct oil well disassembled in green field.

$127 Million Allocated to Clean Up Orphaned Wells in Five States

The funding will be used to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, addressing environmental hazards, creating jobs, and advancing environmental justice as part of a larger effort funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

July 15, 2024 - U.S. Department of the Interior

View of California State Capitol dome in Sacramento, California at dusk.

California Secures $16.2 Million HUD Grant for Affordable Housing

The funding will be used to develop affordable housing, reduce regulatory barriers, and address systemic racism in land use policies.

July 15, 2024 - NBC 4

Aerial view of downtown Boston, Massachusetts with older buildings in foreground and modern glass towers in background.

Cincinnati Eviction Prevention Program Shows Mixed Results

In 2019, a large affordable housing operator implemented a unique program meant to reduce evictions across its properties. Several years, one pandemic, and an economic downturn later, we check in to see how the landlord — and the tenants — are faring.

July 15, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of Pennsylvania Avenue facing U.S. Capitol building

Opinion: TOPA Needs Capital to Succeed

TOPA helps prevent displacement and build tenant power in Washington, DC. Affordable capital is critical to its success.

July 14, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Nighttime view of Cincinnati, Ohio skyline

Strength in Diversity: Crafting an Affordable Housing Coalition in Cincinnati

The city’s longtime champions of housing for low-income residents joined forces with an array of allies to establish a sustainable source of funding for affordable housing.

July 12, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of brownfield area with digger loading a dump truck.

Revitalizing Toxic Sites Using Fungi and Plants

Fungi and plants are being used to detoxify polluted sites, turning hazardous brownfields into vibrant meadows and empowering communities with eco-friendly remediation skills.

July 11, 2024 - Yale Environment 360

Aerial view of park playground in West Los Angeles, California.

LA County Releases Funding for Parkland Acquisition in Underserved Communities

Los Angeles County has released $14.5 million in Measure A grant funds to support parkland acquisition in high-need areas, aiming to create additional green spaces and advance environmental justice and equity.

July 10, 2024 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Vacant retail storefront with multiple glass doors lined with brown paper and a removed neon sign.

How to Repurpose Vacant Storefronts

Loosening restrictions on clean light manufacturing can revive dormant storefronts and revitalize communities.

July 10, 2024 - Governing

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.

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.