Community / Economic Development

How Local Manufacturing Can Rub the Rust off the Rust Belt

William Bostwick explores how locally-sourced, niche product manufacturing could help the Rust Belt rise.

December 11, 2011 - Fast Company

London Taxi Drivers' 'Knowledge' Alters Brain Makeup

London requires more topographical knowledge of its taxi drivers than any other city in the world. Now researchers have found that acquiring 'the knowledge' required to gain certification physically changes a human brain.

December 10, 2011 - The Atlantic

New Study Finds Twitter Reinforces Place-Based Networks

A new study that explores the geography of twitter networks finds that rather than making place obsolete, their intensity can be predicted by location and proximity, suggesting they enhance location based relationships.

December 10, 2011 - The Atlantic

"Civic Action" Examines Art's Role In Development

The Noguchi museum in New York has asked four artists to take a crack at city planning by offering a new way of interpreting the construction of urban fabric. Martha Schwendener evaluates the results.

December 10, 2011 - The New York Times

As Long as It's Flexible, No End for Urban Retail

Last week, a panel of retailers and developers discussed the challenges--and, ultimately, the keys to success--of urban retail. Susan Piperato reports.

December 10, 2011 - National Real Estate Investor

The Apple Store: The City's "Seal of Approval"?

Apple stores are great revenue generators in cities, writes Brian Caulfield, but not just as a one-off. Customers tend to come back for more products and repairs, and the stores themeslves encourage plenty of cross-shopping nearby.

December 9, 2011 - Forbes

Ambitious Effort to Urbanize India

The Indian government is betting big with simultaneously building a massive high speed freight corridor between Delhi & Mumbai as well the physical infrastructure for 24 new cities that will become an industrial corridor.

December 9, 2011 - Global Post

Public Parks to Cover Highways in Hamburg

The City of Hamburg, Germany is planning on building elevated public parks on sections of the to-be-expanded A7 (Highway 7), which is considered one of the most important north-south connectors in Germany.

December 9, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

HUD Announces Sustainability Grant Winners

The 27 communities and regional planning organizations selected will receive a total $96 million to achieve their economic and environmental goals.

December 9, 2011 - Smart Planet

Town Builds Restaurant to Lure Chef

Pocomoke City officials have funded the construction of a restaurant and bar in their city with no tenant on the horizon - just hopes to attract a star chef and spur economic development downtown.

December 8, 2011 - USA Today

Urban Parks Go to The Dogs

According to a study by the non-profit Trust for Public Land, reporter Haya El Nasser says that dog parks are becoming the fastest-growing of city parks nationwide.

December 8, 2011 - USA Today

Los Angeles Considers Lifting Artistic Mural Ban

Los Angeles is considering a new ordinance that will allow artists to paint murals on private property as long as they have permission from the owner.

December 8, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Edward Blakey Reviews Moscow Expansion Plans

University of Sydney Professor Edward Blakely has reviewed Moscow’s plan to expand the capital’s borders to the south-west by 2014 and proclaimed that they will not hamper the city’s development. The territory will more than double.

December 8, 2011 - RT

Rising Prices All Too Familar in D.C.

In Washington D.C., Michael Perkins explains that starting next July, Metro would be at a deficit of $120 million. They have come up with several ideas to raise a portion of that money through fares.

December 8, 2011 - Greater Greater Washington

London's "Pop-Up" Shopping Mall To Be One of a Kind

British entrepreneur Roger Wade has built "[t]he most environmentally friendly shopping mall ever built." 'Boxpark,' which recently opened, is composed of 60 standard size shipping containers stacked two stories high by five rows wide.

December 7, 2011 - CNN

How the Suburbs Killed Our Connectivity, And How to Fix It

The deeper our sense of community, the better positioned we are to take on change, says Scott Doyon, but the leisurely lull of the suburbs may have killed our ability to work together.

December 7, 2011 - PlaceShakers

Where There is Only Muck, Tadao Ando Sees a Floating Forest

Famed architect Tadao Ando wants to transform 220 acres of landfill in Tokyo Bay into a floating forest of almost half a million trees.

December 7, 2011 - The Asahi Shinbun

Pinning Hopes on Theatres to Bring People Downtown

Canadian cities are increasingly investing in cultural centers in their downtowns in order to create attract people and spur investment.

December 7, 2011 - The Globe and Mail

The Living Wage Mandate Works

A 2003 policy that mandated that subsidized developements grant jobs at living wages has not hampered development, according to one official.

December 7, 2011 - Capital New York

Congressional Redistricting Leaves Cities Split

Urban areas have been historically shortchanged when drawing Congressional district lines, and some mayors are less than thrilled to see their municipalities "carved up." Michael Cooper reports.

December 7, 2011 - 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.