Community / Economic Development

Tactical Urbanism Comes of Age

Nate Berg reports on the recent release of the "official" guide to tactical urbanism, Tactical Urbanism 2: Short-Term Action, Long Term Change, authored by Mike Lydon.

March 5, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Emanuel Unveils Economic Development Plan for Chicago - and Innovative Plan to Pay for It

A day after introducing an ambitious economic development plan for Chicago, mayor Rahm Emanuel wasted little time in unveiling a crucial element for implementing the plan - a public-private mechanism for funding infrastructure improvements.

March 2, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

How to Dissolve a Community Redevelopment Agency in California

An interview with Tim McOsker, one of the three appointees charged by Governor Jerry Brown to wind down the affairs of the Los Angeles CRA, reveals an insider's experience of the complexities of respecting contracts and mandates.

March 2, 2012 - The Planning Report

Changing the Paradigm of Urban Development

Jason Kambitsis speaks with Bruce Katz, the founding director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, about his advocacy for taking a fundamentally different approach to urban development based on economic diversification.

March 1, 2012 - Wired: Autopia

Housing: Fundamentals, Imbalance, and Solutions

Is the dream home for the New Era compact, connected and mortgage free?

February 29, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Using Artistic Exploration to Guide Planning Processes

Rebecca Sanborn Stone profiles several innovative communities that are utilizing citizen-guided art projects to communicate values and ideas, break down barriers, and guide planning efforts.

February 28, 2012 - EngagingCities

Will Wal-Mart Chase the Cool out of Athens, GA?

In the controversy over a new development planned for downtown Athens, the chain retailer seems to be a Trojan horse for a larger debate about economic development and who gets to define what is best for a community.

February 28, 2012 - Salon.com

Bringing Crowdfunding to Our Backyards

Michael J. Coren shines a light on an innovative crowdfunding site targeting neighborhood improvements.

February 28, 2012 - Fast Co.Exisit

Top Planning Trends of 2011-2012

February 27, 2012 - Jonathan Nettler

Baltimore's Strategic Ignorance of Its Abandoned Homes

Yepoka Yeebo reports on Baltimore's newest plan to deal with the tens of thousands of abandoned houses that mar the city.

February 27, 2012 - Business Insider

Why Detroit Was Cursed from the Start

Detroit native Pete Saunders makes the case that poor planning put the nail in Motown's casket.

February 25, 2012 - Urbanophile

City Puts an End to Guerrilla "Walk Raleigh" Campaign

A widely publicized guerrilla wayfinding campaign meant to give helpful guidance and encouragement to those exploring the city of Raleigh on foot has been quashed by the City Planning Director, report Chelsea Kellner and Bruce Siceloff.

February 24, 2012 - The News & Observer

In California, Assessing the Obstacles to Redevelopment 2.0

Continuing their excellent coverage of the twists and turns in the California redevelopment saga, CP&DR have run two articles this week providing updates on efforts to navigate a path forward for redevelopment.

February 24, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

The Once and Future Urbanism of Sandwich Boards

Chuck Wolfe traces the comeback of sandwich board signage in cities, explains how associated regulations work, and offers reasons why such signage should be carefully fostered.

February 24, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Hipster States of America

Writing from Austin, Texas, one of the current centers for hipster culture in the U.S., Lauren Modery proposes a list of the next cities she believes are ripe for an explosion of old-timey facial hair, geeky eyewear, and overall hipsterfication.

February 23, 2012 - CultureMap Austin

A European Model for Suburban Retrofitting

Kaid Benfield revisits the results of a plan to revitalize the town center of Plessis-Robinson, a suburb of Paris, with the suggestion that its success could inform similar efforts in the United States.

February 23, 2012 - Switchboard

Pop-up Street Libraries Appear in New York

John Metcalfe reports on efforts by one New York architect to utilize the city's ubiquitous pay telephone booths as the settings for pop-up libraries.

February 22, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

How Post Office Closings Will Be Harmful to Rural Health

Cezary Podkul and Emily Stephenson examine the likely economic and social consequences of efforts by the U.S. Postal Service to close thousands of rural post offices this year.

February 22, 2012 - The Washington Post

Reconciling Redevelopment With a Salacious Past

In Kansas City, the historic home of jazz and Prohibition-era excess struggles with a redevelopment effort that attempts to build on that era's history while leaving behind some of its essential characteristics, writes Brandon R. Reynolds.

February 22, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A New Arena is Coming to Brooklyn, But What's Next?

As a new basketball arena takes shape at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in Brooklyn, Neil deMause investigates what is next for the controversial, and much changed, Atlantic Yards project.

February 19, 2012 - The Brooklyn Bureau

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.