Community / Economic Development

Can Manhattan Keep Up With Its Own Financial Industry?

Edward L. Glaeser looks back on the boom towns of yore and warns that, without a little balance, the dominance of finance in New York could spell trouble.

April 29, 2012 - City Journal

Why Place Matters

In the era of globalization and increased connectivity, which was once predicted to loosen our bonds to place, Saffron Woodcraft argues that cities have become more, not less, significant.

April 26, 2012 - Urban Times

Trading Trash For Tomatoes in Mexico City

Michael J. Coren reports on a new program in Mexico City that lets residents trade their recyclable trash for credits with nearby farms.

April 25, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Identifying the Key Steps to Building Baltimore's Economy

Baltimore has ridden out the recession better than most metropolitan areas. However, in advance of a study to be released this week, Jennifer S. Vey outlines the ways in which it can better align workers' skills with economic opportunities.

April 24, 2012 - The Baltimore Sun

Who Can Solve London's Great Challenges?

Against the backdrop of a made-for-tv mayoral election, Richard Florida looks at the litany of issues afflicting London as the city struggles with the deepest challenges it has faced since the Great Depression and post-war years.

April 24, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Biggest NYC Infrastructure Project You Haven't Heard of...

NYC's long-declining waterfront industry is expected to experience a new boom time, as the expansion of the Panama Canal will allow double the cargo and much larger ships to call at New York's harbor by 2024.

April 24, 2012 - MetroFocus

New Toolkit Aims to Educate Leaders on How to Support Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses

Using case studies from across the country, a toolkit released earlier this month by the National League of Cities aims to provide local leaders with concrete strategies to assist the growth of their local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

April 23, 2012 - CitiesSpeak.org

20 Years Onward, How Have the Riots Changed LA?

In April 1992, L.A. erupted in a torrent of burning, looting, and rioting following the acquittal of three police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King. Josh Sides looks at how the city responded to those events and how it's changed since.

April 22, 2012 - Places

Sacramento's Slam Dunk Stadium Deal Rejected

Steven Greenhut opines on the lucky break he believes residents of Sacramento received earlier this week when owners of the city's NBA franchise backed out of a partnership to build a new basketball arena in the city's downtown.

April 20, 2012 - Bloomberg View

Vallejo Approves First City-Wide Participatory Budgeting Process in US

The City Council of Vallejo, California, approved the first city-wide Participatory Budgeting process in the US this week. Residents will directly decide how to spend around $3 million from new sales tax revenue.

April 20, 2012 - Times Herald

Are DC's Strict Height Limits and Arbitrary Planning Rules Hurting the City?

Two commentaries pick up on the recent push to loosen Washington D.C.'s notoriously conservative height limits, and argue that such controversial changes are overdue and, in fact, don't go far enough.

April 19, 2012 - The Atlantic

The Stark Differences Between the Two Californias

Many think the two geographic divisions in CA are north and south, but this article uses economic data to show that the real division is between coastal and inland. These differences transcend economics and are revealed in public policies as well.

April 18, 2012 - The New York Times - U.S.

How U.S. Cities Drive the Global Economy

Brad Plumer discusses the findings of a new report from the McKinsey Global Institute that delves into the impact that U.S. cities have on the national and global economy, and assesses the reasons for their influence.

April 18, 2012 - The Washington Post

The Death and Life of Redevelopment in California

Kicking off their new long-form Forefront initiative, Josh Stephens writes for Next American City on the killing of the country’s largest redevelopment program, and its implications for economic and real estate development.

April 17, 2012 - Next American City

Nowhere Near Completion, Brooklyn's Mega-Development is Already Changing the Neighborhood

Joseph Berger looks at the impact the Atlantic Yards project is having on long-time businesses and residents in the surrounding neighborhoods, as die-hard opponents continue to resist the project.

April 17, 2012 - The New York Times

Why Sense of Place is Worth Caring About

Edward T. McMahon explores the importance of community character, and why it is one of the key elements to a city’s economic success.

April 17, 2012 - Urban Land

Organizing CicLAvia: An Experience of Public Space in Los Angeles

Days before the American Planning Association's national convention, CicLAvia's Aaron Paley describes the event's origins and evolution and explains how an open streets event in Los Angeles can transform one's sense of public space and the city.

April 14, 2012 - The Planning Report

Can Little Tokyo Survive the Growth of Downtown LA?

Big changes loom large over Little Tokyo, Kaid Benfield reports. The question is whether higher land values will steal away its character and cultural significance.

April 12, 2012 - Switchboard

What Will Happen to California's Orphaned Urban Projects?

Terry Pristin looks at the fallout from the dissolution of California's redevelopment agencies and asks what will come of the hundreds of projects in various stages of completion.

April 12, 2012 - The New York Times

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.