Community / Economic Development

The Globe & Mail takes an in-depth look at Prime Minister David Cameron's "Big Society" agenda, which will devolve power to local communities and see an "army" of volunteers responsible for such things as running schools and maintaining parks.

February 15, 2011 - The Globe and Mail

Urban-boosters in Cleveland and other Rust Belt locales are fierce defenders of their much-maligned cities. But does civic boosterism gloss over the region's very real problems? Worse, does it serve to protect the dysfunctional status quo?

February 15, 2011 - Rust Wire

The Tyee presents a conversation between two Vancouver urban thinkers about the city's downtown and how some efforts to improve the city's core have worked while others have fallen short.

February 15, 2011 - The Tyee

One way to help build an expensive new extension of L.A's subway system is to accept corporate sponsorships, argues Joel Epstein in this op-ed.

February 15, 2011 - Los Angeles Business Journal

The Planning Institute of Australia released a report that predicts a grim future for Australia's suburbs, unless the government moves to radically overhaul its transport and urban policies.

February 15, 2011 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Areas once thought to be virtually immune to the downturn in the housing market are starting to see signs of decline.

February 14, 2011 - The New York Times

Communities in the slums of India are well known for "making do". A new exhibit looks at how that spirit of innovation and adaptation plays out in these cities and how other cities can learn from them.

February 14, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

What, as a society, do we share? Natural resources? Internet access? Public space? Jay Walljasper and the nonprofit On the Commons cross political boundaries to advocate for the common good and all that we share.

February 14, 2011 - Tim Halbur

Struggling cities in the Rust Belt are actually luring a new surge of younger populations, according to this piece from Governing.

February 12, 2011 - Governing

Grist's Sarah Goodyear takes a look at a Superbowl TV commercial's focus on Detroit, and how selling a city can either work or fail.

February 12, 2011 - Grist

Transit ridership boomed during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but the numbers have since fallen.

February 12, 2011 - CBC

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust's mission is to bring parks and gardens to underserved communities in Los Angeles, where problems of obesity are bad enough that the city recently banned new fast food operations.

February 12, 2011 - The Planning Report

Developers in Las Vegas have announced a proposal for a three-stadium complex in the city intended to lure professional basketball, hockey, football and baseball teams.

February 11, 2011 - The Las Vegas Sun

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people have taken over the Grande Hotel in Beira, Mozambique, and turned it into a small community of squatters.

February 11, 2011 - CNN

With millions of people, Los Angeles -- like many big cities -- can be a rude place. And though it makes sense that the city can be impolite, it doesn't have to be, argues Amy Alkon in this op-ed.

February 11, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Athens, Greece has all the elements of good urbanism - density, diversity, destinations, distance (to transit) and design. So is Athens a poster child for good urbanism? Fanis Grammenos takes an in-depth look.

February 10, 2011 - Fanis Grammenos

Urban designer David Green talks with Anthony Lyons, Director of the city of Gainesville's Community Redevelopment Agency, about his successes in the city and how other cities can become more livable.

February 10, 2011 - Fast Co. Design

Agricultural spaces are increasingly being included in housing developments.

February 10, 2011 - Landscape Architecture Magazine

In Japan, owners of vacant space can rent them out by the hour, day or week to people who need them for temporary purposes thanks to a new website.

February 10, 2011 - Japan Today

After the backlash of suburban development in the 80s and 90s, “supermarket-led development” in town centers remain a contentious issue in Britain.

February 9, 2011 - New Urban Network