Community / Economic Development

Without More Affordable Housing, Veteran Homelessness Will Return

Federal funding to end veteran homelessness has had a real impact, but a nationwide shortage of affordable housing could make its success temporary.

March 24, 2015 - Shelterforce

Denver Skyline

Denver Tries to Balance Loss of Parking with Downtown Vibrancy

At the edge of the Great Plains, Denver would seem to have plenty of room for everything, including parking. But a development boom in downtown Denver has reduced the number of parking lots, and the city is learning to evolve.

March 22, 2015 - The Denver Post

Fast Food

Fighting Food Deserts in Los Angeles

Public health analysts and justice activists are tackling food deserts in a state known for its agricultural output. Low-income neighborhoods of color are the hardest hit by a lack of grocery options.

March 20, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Rich Suburban House

Affluence Still at Home in the Suburbs

Commentators often say an influx of wealth is transforming American cities. But if prosperity is really still suburban, what are the consequences for the environment?

March 19, 2015 - Grist

Survey: Americans Buying In to the 'Golden Age of Local Innovation'

While Congress continues a spectacle of inertia and citizens grapple with a recovery fraught with inequity and conflict, local initiatives are taking control of the future direction of communities around the United States, according to a new survey.

March 18, 2015 - National Journal

Alberta Arts District Mural Portland

A Response to the Loss of Black Communities in Portland

A five-minute video funded by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation tells the story of black communities struggling to preserve their traditions in what's been called the whitest city in the United States.

March 17, 2015 - Oregon Humanities

Global Suburbanisms: Beyond the White Picket Fence

With more people gravitating toward cities than ever before, new urban morphologies are proliferating throughout the world. Arup Connect's Sarah Wesseler talks with Roger Keil of York University about challenges facing global suburban development.

March 16, 2015 - Arup Connect

Implementing Housing Vouchers for Veterans

A look at what HUD-VASH supportive housing vouchers can do, from the perspective of one of the agencies administering them.

March 14, 2015 - Shelterforce

Newark

American Dream for Sale: $1,000 for an Empty Lot in Newark

In a bid for revenue and rejuvenation, Newark is selling vacant lots for $1,000. Buyers promise to build a home and stay for at least five years.

March 14, 2015 - New York Times

Businesses Band Together to Rebrand Their Block

It's just one block, but a block disrupted by changes happening just a quarter-mile away. So these businesses came together to rebrand their street and bring customers back.

March 13, 2015 - Elevation DC

Millennial Advisory Panel Convened for Atlanta's Regional Planning Effort

The Atlanta Regional Commission is engaging Millennials in an ongoing planning effort that will determine the shape of the region through 2040.

March 13, 2015 - Atlanta Regional Commission

Business, Government, and Infrastructure in Brazil

With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Brazil is at the cusp of major change. Arup's Gustavo Ferreria discusses the role that public-private partnerships are playing in modernizing and expanding the country's infrastructure systems.

March 11, 2015 - Arup Connect

A stream of mobile apps

Why Coding Can Teach Planners How to Be More Creative

I want to learn HTML and CSS, or maybe get a refresher on the current state of web technology—where should I start?

March 10, 2015 - Civicly

Children Playing

A Call for Reimagined Schoolyards

In recent years, tactical urbanism has helped reinvent many streets and sidewalks in center cities, creating new public spaces. But many spaces remain untouched. Anuj Gupta argues that reinvented schoolyards can be the next great public spaces.

March 8, 2015 - Philadelphia Magazine

A Case for Putting Kids First

Instead of "Bikers First!" or "Creative Class First!" James Siegel, president of Kaboom!, proposes an alternative for cities: "Kids First!"

March 6, 2015 - Medium

Where and How 'Agrihoods' Work

A post on the Lexington Streetsweeper blog examines the idea of Farming Community Subdivision, or "agrihood," and the plausibility of such a community being created in Central Kentucky.

March 6, 2015 - The Lexington Streetsweeper

The set of the television show Sesame Street

Nextdoor—the 'Facebook for Neighborhoods—Catching on with Investors and Users

As social media platforms evolve into specific niches, the Nextdoor platform is quickly expanding its online version of neighborhood-level interaction.

March 5, 2015 - New York Times

We're All Complicit in Change—Now What?

Be a citizen, not just a consumer.

March 5, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Dallas Residents Gather for a 'Festival of Ideas'

A huge crowd braved un-Texas-like weather this weekend in Dallas to participate in the "Festival of Ideas." The Dallas Morning News hopes the citizens of Big D will keep up their momentum in working to improve their city.

March 4, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Denver Union STation TOD

How Form-Based Ideas Could Transform Community Planning

Let's discuss how community planning could be fundamentally reorganized to improve both efficiency and placemaking.

March 2, 2015 - Better Cities & Towns

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.

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.