Community / Economic Development
Maryland Lays Out Plan to Combat Sprawl
A large chunk of the state's developed land is designated as low to very low single-family residential, which explains an exceptionally high percentage of workers who commute to work alone. PlanMaryland seeks to change this unsustainable trend.
NYC Residents Suggesting Locations for New Bike Share Stations
Earlier this week, New York City officials announced a new bikeshare system that will be available to New Yorkers in 2012.
Feds and Orgs Team Up to Boost Creative Placemaking
Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the NEA, has long make the link between the arts and economic development. He is one of the big hitters behind ArtPlace, a public-private collaboration to foster creative placemaking.
Participatory Budgeting Launches in New York City
In four New York City Council districts, residents will soon be able to propose and vote on capital projects to be funded by councilmember's budgets.
A New Urban Portrait for Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, is beginning to embrace an urban transect-based plan as a solution for its recent population growth and rapidly evolving economy.
Parking Privatization Key To Arena Financing
Sacramento desperately wants to hold on to its professional basketball team, the Kings, who have threatened to leave. A just-released financing plan points to privatizing city-owned parking spaces as key to providing funding for the new arena.
WalMart/Big Box Subsidies Don't Work, Says New Study
When governments use public money to woo national chains, economic growth and job creation aren't worth the cost, says Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Independent retailers also suffer.
Urbanism Without Effort
Chuck Wolfe says that urbanism that can readily occur in urban neighborhoods "without really trying" as people naturally come together in impromptu ways.
Bank-Owned Foreclosures Cause Problems for Cities
As bank-owned homes become a source of blight and crime, cities struggle to effectively hold banks accountable for their maintenance. Large banks tend to be the worst offenders, often failing to remove trash and weeds or paying fines.
Promoting Equity in Subsidized Housing
As the real estate market begins to rebound, many affordable housing advocates and developers in NYC are calling for a modification of the 80/20 program.
Local Produce, National Food Systems
MacArthur genius Majora Carter is driving a new national brand for locally-sourced produce. Could the local food movement become mainstream, and survive going corporate?
A Closer Look at the Infrastructure Bank
The highly anticipated "job speech" by President Obama this evening will address, among other issues, the infrastructure bank. Michael Likosky argues that it is the only possible revenue stream for the nation's $600 billion infrastructure projects.
Mixed-Use Prevails in 2030 Land Use Projections
A new land use study based on the 2008 "comp plans" data reveals a significant shift toward mixed-use and transit-oriented developments (TODs) in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.
Historic Preservation Jobs Are Local
With Missouri's Historic Preservation Tax Credit on the chopping block, Citiography outlines seven reasons the state should keep this program. Creating local jobs is just one.
Community Involvement Influenced by Anarchy
This Big City team looks at "small places of anarchy" in Toyko that has taken root in DIY Gardening, Collaborative Mental Mapping and FIXing the Neighborhood.
Historic Preservation vs. Planning Reform in the U.K.
With development-friendly reform sweeping through planning in the U.K., English Heritage is concerned the historic sites and greenfields will get swept away with little to no process.
Ten Years Later, a Renaissance in Lower Manhattan
The Globe and Mail looks at the revival of Lower Manhattan since the 9/11 attacks, in terms of being a both a great residential and business environment.
Refineries' High Hopes For Diesel Fuel
It may not be apparent to American motorists, but the U.S. oil refinery industry is ailing. Reduced VMT, mandated ethanol use, and escalating vehicle fuel efficiency standards caused a decrease of gasoline consumed. Diesel may revive the industry.
Jobs vs. the Environment: Can A Middle Ground Be Found?
The debate may be as old as the first environmental regulation on the federal books - do regulations kill jobs? Fresh from a Sept. 2 victory over EPA's attempt to strengthen smog regulations,Republicans will continue the effort to reduce regulations
Going Local in Buffalo
Part of Buffalo, New York's decline, writes Amy Kedron, involved a shift from local to non-local ownership of businesses. A movement is afoot to encourage businesses to "Think Local First."
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
