Community / Economic Development
2012's Big Urban Projects
Will Doig takes us through some of the biggest projects to look out for across the nation this year, proving that cities are neither as cash-strapped nor as unimaginative as we perhaps thought.
The Paradox of India's Informal Slum Economy
This piece from The New York Times goes inside the economic powerhouse of Mumbai's Dharavi slum to profile the informality that both troubles it and brings it prosperity.
'Unfathomable' Budget Cuts Deepen the Housing Crisis
The continuing recession and housing crisis are being further decimated by federal cuts to housing aid, according to The Nation.
Downgraded, But Not Out
University Place, Washington is a small town struggling through the recession. With its credit rating recently downgraded and labeled a "negative outlook," the town is facing new challenges as it tries to emerge from the hole.
City Taglines Adopted in 2011
Atlantic Cities collects the new slogans cities adopted in 2011 to help define their city and improve business and tourism.
Friday Funny: Apocalypse Tourism
Your probably heard of ecotourism -- responsible tourism to natural areas. Apocalypse tourism celebrates the the end of the world on December 21, 2012, and Mexico's tourism board has the event locked up.
Private and Public Converge in Toronto's 'Information Pillars'
New street furniture is being installed in Toronto, but locals are already sick of it. They're called "information pillars" and are supposed to offer helpful directions and info to pedestrians, but critics complain that they're mostly advertisements.
California Supreme Court Rules to Eliminate Redevelopment Agencies
The court's decision is likely to have far-reaching effects on how cities in California finance and facilitate urban redevelopment.
Does Gentrification Need to be a Bad Word?
Gentrification has come to signify wealthier residents pushing lower-income residents out of a community, but gentrification also has some "undeniable upsides". Ward 8 in Washington D.C. offers a glimpse into how gentrification can aid a community.
An Invitation to Sprawl?
New legislation by the Maharashtra State Governments would allow private land owners to apply for city boundary expansions as a tool to ease congestion.
Revive Farming, Revive Haiti
After the earthquake, Haiti's recovery has not been in rebuilding the center city, but through decentralization and the development of farming. But even this plan, reports Randal Archibald, is fraught with challenges.
Does Local Economic Development Work?
Academic Mario Polèse argues that the history of local economic development is a "story of academic fads", that have "proven of little practical use."
Northern Manhattan Sees White Collar Boom
Traditionally immigrant neighborhoods in the northernmost reaches of Manhattan, Washington Heights and Inwood are seeing new, white collar companies set up shop in the low-rent neighborhoods.
Outdoor Markets Gain In Popularity
Holiday festival markets are flourishing in central city squares across America, following the model of the great Christmas markets of Germany and other European countries.
Hondura's Experiment in Massive Free Market City Building
Can Honduras develop it's own Hong Kong by enabling free market "startup cities"? The sleepy city of Trujillo is selected for the country's first experiment.
Top 2011 Design Milestones for the Public Good
Archinect's John Cary compiles a comprehensive list of most forward-thinking designs in 2011 that have impacted people's lives, and the way they interact with the built environment.
For Urbanizing Beijing, "Putting Farmers in Flats" Not Enough
Tom Miller, author of "Urban Billion," discusses the pitfalls and shortcomings of a too-quickly urbanizing Beijing in this interview with David Pierson.
Rules for Planning Successful Retail Developments
Hazel Borys discusses how several key form-based guidelines for retail can encourage success in the most risky of all development types.
Hollywood Community Plan is Misguided, Says Planner
According to Richard Platkin, the Hollywood Community Plan Update is merely one megaproject after the next--a huge mistake, and the antithesis to the Los Angeles General Plan Framekwork for good reason.
Does Your Local Economic Development Strategy Include Search Engines?
Nearly half of consumers now report that they look for local business information using the Internet, more than any other source.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
