Community / Economic Development

"Shoulder Pads" For A Stadium

Design and architecture firm Gensler has released their newest plans for the proposed football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.

November 17, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

Bicycle Users Take Action Into Their Own Hands

In 2007, Mexico City's government promised that it would build 300km of bike lanes around the city by 2012. According to Jimena Veloz, "the city still only has 22.2 km because most money is allocated to car infrastructure."

November 17, 2011 - This Big City

'Burbs Don't "Support the Vision" for Tech Company

Lured by state and potentially city incentives, one high-tech headquarters is ditching its current suburban location for a spot in downtown Kansas City. Is a resurgence afoot? Kevin Collison reports.

November 17, 2011 - The Kansas City Star

Planning's Limits and Strengths Identified at NYC Zoning Conference

Though held in recognition of zoning's 50th anniversary, the conference details future social, economic, and environmental challenges. Raymond Li reports on both the positive and negative points of discussion brought up on Tuesday.

November 17, 2011 - International Business Times

New Library Making A Splash With Public Art

West Hollywood, California recently opened a new public library, hiring a number of prominent artists like Shepard Fairey to turn it into a local landmark.

November 16, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

ASLA Seeks A More Sustainable D.C.

For Washington D.C., ASLA polled members to develop a new "comprehensive framework" connecting sustainability with economic development.

November 16, 2011 - American Society of Lanscape Architects

Manhattan Bus Terminal Tower Plans Nixed...Again

For the third time, a deal between Vornado Realty Trust, its Chinese investment partner, and the Port Authority has fallen through to develop a 40-story office tower atop the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan.

November 16, 2011 - The New York Times

Senate Approves Federal Funding for NJ Rail Tunnel

Despite cancelling the ARC Tunnel project last year, New Jersey may build an alternative tunnel using U.S. Senate funding.

November 15, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

New Efforts To Liven Up Parks

In Ohio, officials are looking at new ways to liven up their parks. They are providing incentives for volunteers to help beautify and maintain the parks, in addition to adding new programs to attract users to frequent the parks.

November 15, 2011 - American City and Country

How Art Improved New Yorks Metro System

In New York, Arts for Transit is a program that was started to bring "original and integrated artworks into MTA stations and spaces and to promote design excellence." Director, Sandra Bloodworth sits with Urban Omnibus to discuss the program.

November 15, 2011 - Urban Omnibus

Cities Need Less "Recycled Income" To Thrive

Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution proposes that cities are fueling themselves too heavily through "Starbucks, stadia and stealing businesses," sources he says are just recycling local dollars instead of attracting global income sources.

November 15, 2011 - Governing Magazine

Colossal Airport Master Plan "Transcends Appearance"

Foster + Partners reveal a utopian transit master plan so massive that it requires us to consider it "on a level that transcends appearance." The design seeks to streamline connections to the rest of the world through subterranean engineering.

November 15, 2011 - The Atlantic

Jane Jacobs' Masterpiece, 50 Years Later

Anthony Flint looks at the legacy of Jane Jacobs upon the 50th anniversary of the release of "The Death and Life of Great American Cities."

November 14, 2011 - The Boston Globe

Boston Area Cities Receive Smart Growth Funding

Each of the cities just north of Boston will use its federal funds however it sees fit to boost smart growth principles and local economic development.

November 13, 2011 - The Boston Globe

A New Paradigm for Affordable Housing

Via Verde is a unique 222-unit building built in Queens as an experiment in healthy, sustainable and affordable living for low- and moderate-income residents. Txchnologist takes a tour.

November 11, 2011 - Txchnologist.com

Occupy D.C.'s Urban Design Model

Evelio Contreras and Philip Kennicott film the Occupy movement transforming MacPherson Square into an urban hub, in one of Washington's central nodal points.

November 11, 2011 - The Washington Post

Much of Future Measure R Money to Pay For "L.A. Roadworks"

Mayor Villaraigosa plans to borrow against future Measure R money to fund one massive, two-year road improvement project before he leaves office.

November 11, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Muslim Community Drives New Redevelopment Project

In Mumbai, a tight-knit community of Ismaili Muslims are beginning work on their 16.5 acres redevelopment project. The cluster of land, which is said to be in the heart of the city's southern tip, is to be completed by 2017.

November 10, 2011 - The Polis Blog

Mother-In-Law Apartments Are Good for the Economy

Accessory dwelling units, or in-law apartments, are gaining approval in greater numbers of communities.

November 10, 2011 - The New York Times

Landlords and Regulators Aren't Equipped to Handle Temporary Uses

Even a real estate market as strong as Washington, DC has vacant land and storefronts. Regulatory burdens and business customs make finding temporary tenants difficult, even though temporary uses can enliven dead spaces and spark entrepreneurship.

November 10, 2011 - Greater Greater Washington

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.