Community / Economic Development

Community Engagement

A Planning Primer: Validating the Lived Experiences of Immigrants

A few key considerations, implemented during a public engagement process, can ensure active and engaged participation from commonly marginalized groups and individuals.

September 9, 2015 - James Rojas

Development Brings Educational Component to Mixed-Use Project

New mixed-use Prairiefire development in Overland Park, Kansas, combines a museum with retail, entertainment, and housing space to respond to strong demographics in an increasingly-competitive environment.

September 9, 2015 - ULI Urban Land Magazine

Astoria Oregon

Oregon Is Not Just Portland: Planning a Sustainable Economy in Peripheral Areas of the American West

Dr. Robert Young of UT-Austin guest blogs about his work on the challenges of promoting sustainable development in peripheral areas of Oregon.

September 8, 2015 - JPER

Proposed Parklet Divides San Francisco Gay Neighborhood

A small cafe in San Francisco's gay neighborhood, the Castro, proposed a parklet on two parking spaces that is dividing merchants. Some see it as a potential haven for homeless and illegal activity, as well as objecting to the loss of parking.

September 8, 2015 - Bay Area Reporter

Labor Day Means the End for Many Transportation Sector Jobs

A Brookings Institution reports calls on policy makers to ensure appropriate investments and programs to support workers in the transportation sector.

September 5, 2015 - Brookings

The Influence of Public Works on Gentrification

New research examines the role of public investments in gentrification.

September 3, 2015 - CityLab

The Lost History of D.C.'s Murals

Washington City Paper creates a record of the many murals that have been lost to new construction and shifting demographics in neighborhoods around Washington, D.C.

September 2, 2015 - Washington City Paper

Graduation Ceremony

Is 'Brain Drain' a Legitimate Problem?

According to analysts like Aaron Renn, the exodus of educated Millennials from what some perceive to be less-glamorous cities shouldn't signal impending doom. For one thing, brain drain might not be happening at all.

September 1, 2015 - Next City

Skid Row

Conflicting Stories From Los Angeles' Skid Row

As the city considers new ordinances making it easier for police to break up homeless camps, residents say forced displacement is already underway. Police deny an increase in homeless sweeps.

August 31, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Suburbia

Aging Boomer Suburbanites: The Coming Transit Disaster

The suburbs are not conducive to the aging baby boomers that populate them. How do we prepare?

August 31, 2015 - Mother Nature Network

Mexico Train

First Rail Link in a Over a Century Now Connects U.S., Mexico

Instead of building a wall separating the United States and Mexico, officials from both countries celebrated the opening on Tuesday of the West Rail Bypass International Bridge.

August 29, 2015 - USA Today

Using Vacant Property Registration Fee Ordinances to Fix Blight

Planners get involved with foreclosure by assisting residents threatened with foreclosure or addressing community impacts such as blight, vacancy, and property disinvestment. A look at vacant property fees as a tool for dealing with foreclosure.

August 28, 2015 - Maine Association of Planners

Abbot Kinney

Big Money Floods Venice Beach

Is a gentrified Venice Beach still Venice Beach? With median home prices topping $1.4 million, the area's eclectic characters can't afford to stay. Investors and the tech industry say the change is only natural.

August 28, 2015 - The Washington Post

Global Call for Ideas Reveals Promising Resilience Solutions

Superstorm Sandy spurred the New York City Economic Development Corporation to form the RISE:NYC program, a global competition for innovative solutions to post-disaster resiliency. Arup's Sarah Wesseler spoke with them to learn more.

August 27, 2015 - Doggerel

Uptown Oakland

What Is a 'Great' Neighborhood? An Analysis of APA's Top-Rated Places

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Planning Association finds that the APA's definition of "great neighborhoods" might be leaving low-income and minority populations behind.

August 27, 2015 - Emily Talen

Community Ties in the Era of Isolation

Connectivity may form the bedrock of what we call "resilience" but we're just not all that neighborly these days. Can we become more competitive and lasting by restitching our threadbare community fabric?

August 25, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Atlanta's Midtown Achieving 'Tech Hub' Status

Companies looking for creative class cache have begun to locate in Atlanta's Midtown and spilling over into neighboring districts.

August 25, 2015 - Upstart Business Journal

Is the Local NFL Team Hurting the Local College Team and the Local Economy?

Studies show building NFL stadiums drain tax revenues and don't boost local economies. What about NFL teams themselves? Land use attorney (and football fan) Bill Adams argues that they rob support from local college teams and local economies.

August 24, 2015 - UrbDeZine

HUD Grants $24 Million for Community Development Pool in North St. Louis

The federal government offered to $24 million to create a loan pool in struggling areas of North St. Louis County—most infamously displayed to the country over the past year in the intense racial conflicts centering around Ferguson.

August 22, 2015 - St. Louis County

Terms and Concepts for Understanding Land Banks

Clarifying some of the jargon that drives the land bank process in Cuyahoga County, Ohio reveals the importance and scale of neighborhood stabilization in some parts of the country.

August 21, 2015 - Cleveland.com

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.