Community / Economic Development

Chicago Changing the Local Investment Game

With the announcement of a $100 million infusion into a local investment fund, Chicago will become the first city to fund in ways usually reserved for the federal government.

October 20, 2016 - Next City

Road Construction

Debate: Growing the Economy From the Supply Side

Two economists discuss how specific kinds of deregulation could speed up growth. They emphasize planning issues: local overregulation of development and the high cost of infrastructure, among others.

October 19, 2016 - Bloomberg View

Reno, Throwing Away Benches to be 'Business Friendly'

Reno's blight initiative drew criticism when it removed 68 benches from a park it was renovating.

October 18, 2016 - NBC News - Reno Nevada

Chicago

Chicago TOD Strategies: Sum Of Parts Equal, Greater Than the Whole

A successful TOD will be predicated upon three core elements: 1) development; 2) transit; and 3) transit-friendly amenities. While focus tends to be on the first two elements, this article provides insights on the importance of the third element.

October 17, 2016 - Renewal & Redevelopment (Association for Redevelopment Initiatives)

Replicas of Mid-Century Towns Built to Aid the Memories of Alzheimer's Patients

The Glenner Town Square development in Chula Vista, California will be one of the first "immersive facilities" in the United States, designed to trigger memories for Alzheimer's patients.

October 17, 2016 - CityLab

Tracking the Growth of the 'Gig Economy' in U.S. Cities

The Brookings Institute thinks it has found a way to measure the impact of the expanding 'gig economy'—i.e., freelancing work enabled by online platforms like Airbnb and Uber.

October 16, 2016 - Brookings

Philadelphia Renaissance Threatens Working Diamond District

Heretofore preservationists in the City of Brotherly Love have been focused on finding new uses for vacant, historic buildings, but the city's economic resurgence now threatens five, occupied low-rise buildings city's in vibrant Jewelers Row.

October 13, 2016 - The New York Times - Real Estate

Denver Skyline

The New Definition of Global City, Fit for a New World

The Brookings Institution's Global Cities Initiative recently released a report proposing a new definition for global cities, which is actually seven definitions.

October 13, 2016 - Brookings

Brooklyn

Fact Check: What's Really Going on in 'Inner Cities'?

One of the few mentions of cities during the second presidential debate came when Donald Trump described the states of "inner cities" in the country. The explanation didn't sit well with some experts.

October 12, 2016 - The New York Times

New York City Construction

Job Growth Accelerates in Urban Centers, Slows on the Periphery

City centers have caught up to suburbs in terms of economic performance, according to new analysis.

October 11, 2016 - City Observatory City Commentary

Providence

Op-Ed: Programming the First Priority for Keeping Public Spaces Safe

Providence, Rhode Island is looking ways to make Kennedy Plaza, located in the city's downtown, safe for all users. Increased law enforcement in only one way to achieve that goal, according to an op-ed in the Providence Journal.

October 10, 2016 - Providence Journal

Atlanta BeltLine

Ryan Gravel Speaks Out After Resigning from the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership

Streetsblog USA shares an interview with the visionary behind the Atlanta BeltLine, who discusses how the city's booming economy has conflicted with the mission of the project.

October 10, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Miami

Ranking the Ten Most Unequal U.S. Cities

According to a recent ranking by Bloomberg, Miami is the most unequal city in America.

October 9, 2016 - Bloomberg

Yuppies Out

Richard Florida on the Perils of Gentrification

Florida discusses a recent study that emphasizes how new the back-to-the-city movement is, how white it is, and what that means for the people it pushes out.

October 8, 2016 - CityLab

Friday Eye Candy: The Poetry of the Urban

A survey of the long history of poetry connected of the urban experience—from the 18th century to the Beat poets of the 20th century and the Hip Hop artists of today.

October 7, 2016 - The Guardian

Accessibility

Pushing for Universal Access in the New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda, which sets a new global strategy for sustainable urbanization, still has shortcomings regarding universal access for people with special needs.

October 5, 2016 - Citiscope

New Orleans Doors

New Orleans Leverages New Federal Housing Rule as Gentrification Tool

New Orleans is among the first cities to respond to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Affirmatively Furthering Affordable Housing rule.

October 5, 2016 - The New Orleans Advocate

High Hopes for New Developments in the Chicago Neighborhood of Englewood

Chicago's Englewood neighborhood recently saw the opening of a Whole Foods, Starbucks, and other retailers in a bit of a good news, for a neighborhood that's challenged by low employment and high violence.

October 3, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Los Angeles Homeless

Los Angeles Leader Steps Up On Homelessness Crisis

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, a veteran leader at the city, county, and state-level, addresses the funding gaps to address this urgent issue and shares some innovative models being deployed by the county.

October 1, 2016 - The Planning Report

Planning for a Microgrid: Santa Monica Reclaims Industrial Space for Renewable Energy

Cities throughout California, including Santa Monica, have been awarded research and development funding through the California Energy Commission to plan community-scale microgrid solutions.

September 30, 2016 - The Planning Report

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.