Community / Economic Development

An Urban Framework Based on the Slum

Many people have argued that global cities can take lessons from informal communities like Dharavi and the favelas of Brazil. Designers Pavlina Ilieva and Kuo Pao Lian have created a new framework for city development based on these informal cities.

September 11, 2010 - The Futurist

Re-Rio

With the next World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics on their way, Rio de Janeiro is in the midst of a vast citywide regeneration campaign.

September 11, 2010 - Smithsonian Magazine

Growth in the Hollywood of Michigan

Fueled by a generous tax incentive, Michigan has seen its film industry grow in recent years. Much of that growth is centered in Metropolitan Detroit, and is expected to continue its upward trend.

September 11, 2010 - Next American City

5 Major Factors Behind America's Strongest Cities

Derek Thompson reports on the twenty strongest metro areas and the major factors behind their success in recovering from the recession. He concludes that the country "did not experience an even, cross-country recession."

September 10, 2010 - The Atlantic

New Film Documents a Living Detroit

A documentary currently touring the country sets out to show that Detroit is not dead, highlighting the entrepreneurs, artists and activists that are currently reclaiming and rebuilding Detroit.

September 10, 2010 - Palladium Blog

The Example of Miami, a Global City

Miami could be the next major American city, and one that other global cities should try to emulate, according to this interview with economist Saskia Sassen.

September 10, 2010 - Foreign Policy

Recovery Through Open Data in Detroit and New Orleans

In Detroit and New Orleans, open data proponents are pushing local government to share public data in ways that help citizens in these struggling cities to improve their communities.

September 9, 2010 - Next American City

Developing Detroit's New Comprehensive Plan

The city of Detroit is looking to create a comprehensive plan for rethinking the struggling city. Next American City talks with the officials heading the effort about the challenges they face.

September 9, 2010 - Next American City

The Economic Benefit of Density

Richard Florida says that the economic benefits of 'agglomeration' are seldom given the attention they deserve. A new study by Florida and the Martin Prosperity Institute aims to do just that.

September 8, 2010 - The Atlantic

Shifting Federal Transportation Dollars to Create More Jobs

Shifting federal transportation dollars to transit projects could help create up to 180,000 jobs and not raise the federal deficit, according to a new report.

September 7, 2010 - Streetsblog

Paris, City of Bees

The BBC reports that there is a surge in urban beekeeping in Paris, with 400 hives and growing within the city limits.

September 7, 2010 - BBC News

'Greening the Ghetto'

Low income housing can also be green housing. A new trend in home design and community activism is giving even inexpensive housing a green sheen.

September 7, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

More Ways to Shrink

Drake Bennett rounds up a host of new ideas for cities like Detroit and Cleveland that are forced to consider how to manage their shrinking cities.

September 6, 2010 - The Boston Globe

The Urban and Civic Impact of Daniel Burnham

A documentary airing nationally on PBS today looks at the work of Daniel Burnham and the emergence of the urban planning profession.

September 6, 2010 - Architectural Record

Cities With the Most Pedestrian Deaths

GOOD Magazine has an infographic illustrating the world cities with the most pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents. Unsurprisingly, 3 American cities are at the top of the list.

September 5, 2010 - GOOD Magazine

Cash for Clunkers Program A Dud, Say Economists

A new study says that the bump in sales brought on by the Cash for Clunkers program was immediately followed by an equal plunge in sales, effectively wiping out the economic benefit.

September 5, 2010 - NPR

Temporary Autonomous Zones Alter Public Space in The UK

The increase in outdoor music festivals, guerrilla gardening, temporary restaurants, cinemas and pop-up shops are all examples of "a growing appetite for transforming our apparently prosaic, profit-led landscape into something else."

September 4, 2010 - The Guardian

Building Business By Building Bike Lanes

Cycling activists in Vancouver are trying to tout the economic benefits of bike lanes to help build the case for a proposed separated bike lane.

September 4, 2010 - Straight.com

The Year of the City at Burning Man

The annual arts festival Burning Man is underway in Northwestern Nevada. This year's theme of Metropolis highlights the event's city-like nature.

September 3, 2010 - Next American City

Dubai's Formula of Tax Free Economic Zones and Mass Tourism Doesn't Work

Joshua Hammer describes his visit to the financially straitened emirate where he found "deserted highways, empty hotel rooms, miles of unsold residential and office space."

September 3, 2010 - The New York Review of Books

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.