Community / Economic Development

Use or Misuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
Rising gasoline prices prompted President Biden to announce on October 19 that he was authorizing the release of 15 million barrels of crude oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

How to Recognize Gentrification
A new book digs into the politics and contradictions of the gentrification debate.

Why Cities Will Outlast the Pandemic Slump
A new report suggests that despite recent challenges, the ‘value proposition’ of urban activity centers remains as strong as ever.

Open Streets and Outdoor Dining Are Best for Business, Report Says
Most business owners believe that they'd be out of business without on-street parking near their front door. The experience of New York City during the pandemic proves otherwise.

Zoning Changes Intended to Spur Redevelopment in Haledon, New Jersey
The borough of Haledon is hoping that less restrictive zoning will spur a new wave of development and economic activity along one of the city's commercial corridors.

Checking the 'Back-to-Work Barometer'
The back-to-work data everyone is talking about? It comes from a security company that offers swipe badges for entrance into office buildings all over the country. Some experts say their data is too incomplete to be authoritative, however.

Vision Zero Cities Journal 2022: Traffic Safety Guidance for a Safer Future
The Vision Zero Cities Journal provides information on traffic safety innovations and the global movement toward Vision Zero.

OPEC Plus Decision to Reduce Oil Output Could Lead to Global Recession
A decision earlier this month by a group of the world's largest oil exporters to drastically reduce oil production to stem the decline in oil prices could be a ‘tipping point’ for a global recession, says the International Energy Agency.

Cities Rethinking the Value of Parking
The effort to reclaim public and private spaces from car storage had some setbacks since the days of al fresco and open streets in the first years of Covid-19. But widespread parking reforms and new evidence shows the public is rethinking parking.

Hurricane Ian Puts Renewed Focus on Florida's Barrier Islands
Ian did not impact Southeast Florida, but coastal residents there took notice of the state's deadliest hurricane since 1935 that devastated much of Southwest Florida last month, particularly the barrier islands off the Gulf Coast.

How Remote Work is Changing the Playing Field for Workers With Disabilities
The more widespread acceptance of working from home is helping millions of Americans with disabilities get back into the workforce and find better job opportunities.

Placemaking: Building on the ‘Soul’ of a Place
Placemaking is often mistaken for a form of manufacturing. Every place already has a story to tell—placemaking just brings that story forward.

Two New Clean Energy Programs Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Unveiled
The U.S. Department of Energy announced two new programs last month that are funded by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: $7 billion to create regional ‘hydrogen hubs’ and $4.9 billion to ‘manage and store carbon pollution.’

Ian's Test
One of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland United States in decades will be a major test for a governor with presidential aspirations as well as his constituents in the nation's third most populous state.

How Adaptive Retailers Contribute to Positive Urbanization
Retailers must respond to changes to stay successful, and urbanization is one of the major factors influencing changing circumstances. Retail representatives that react with care and thoughtfulness contribute to positive urbanization.

The Great American Exodus: A Conservative's Perspective
During his keynote speech on September 11 at the National Conservatism Conference in Miami, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis describes the demographic shifts in America since he became governor in 2019 in what he calls the 'Great American Exodus.'

Community Land Trusts Make Homeownership Accessible
The organizations sell homes to low-income buyers at rates far below market prices, putting homeownership within reach for more families.

Electrifying Trucks: Will California Ban Diesel Power?
Five days after approving a landmark rule to phase out the sale of new light duty vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, the California Air Resource Board released a rule that applies to the sale of new medium and heavy duty ICE vehicles.

Opinion: Support Citizen-Led Public Space Projects
A public space advocate outlines how Philadelphia’s city leaders could support the parklets, plazas, and other public space conversions that proliferated during the pandemic.

Denver Announces Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot
Residents who have experienced homelessness will receive monthly cash payments to help them find and stay in stable, long-term housing.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions