Community / Economic Development

The Economics of Greenfield Development

This essay from The Urbanophile looks at the economics behind greenfield development.

February 5, 2010 - The Urbanophile

Underused Olympic Stadium to Become Water Park

Underused since the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Beijing Water Cube swimming stadium will be converted into a water park.

February 5, 2010 - Agence France Presse

Experts Predict NYC Will (Re)Try Congestion Pricing

In April, 2008, the state assembly rejected Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan. In this recent panel, the experts agree that the revenue the project would have produced for improving city transportation infrastructure is vital to its future.

February 5, 2010 - Streetsblog

American High Speed Rail: Transportation and Jobs

The Infrastructurist's Melissa Lafsky is on Fox Business to discuss the prospect of high speed rail in America -- both in terms of transportation and jobs.

February 4, 2010 - Fox Business

The Right Interventions to Restore Confidence in Weak Markets

Housing affordability is too often seen as the way to stabilize and revitalize weak markets. Neighborhood planning consultants Charles Buki and Elizabeth Humphrey Schilling argue that interventions in weak markets must encourage investment by improving market confidence.

February 4, 2010 - Charles Buki

Habitat for Humanity Embraces Density

Instead of building its signature single family homes in dense New York neighborhoods, Habitat is expanding its model to include LEED-certified apartment buildings.

February 4, 2010 - New York Times

Stroke Recovery, City Recovery

Two years ago, Steve Patterson suffered a stroke. As he goes through the process of recovery, he sees some lessons for struggling cities.

February 3, 2010 - Urban Review STL

The World's Largest Haitian Diaspora Looks On

Architect and urban designer Hector Fernando Burga looks at Haiti through the lens of a Haitian enclave in Miami and wonders what role designers can play in the devastated country's revival.

February 2, 2010 - Places

Birth Rates Falling and Cities Failing

Birth rates are dropping across Europe, and some cities are on the verge of collapse because of it. Exhibit A: Hoyerswerda, Germany.

February 2, 2010 - Guardian

Vancouver in Cinemascope

With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, the editor of Vancouver Magazine takes a shot at capturing the big picture of the city that has become a model for planners everywhere.

February 2, 2010 - The Walrus

Parking For Dollars

Los Angeles explores the possibility of selling off parking garages to manage a budget crisis.

February 1, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Outside Vancouver, Smaller Towns Skeptical About Olympic Benefits

Locals in some of the smaller towns of British Columbia are skeptical that they will see the economic benefits of the this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

January 31, 2010 - Winnipeg Free Press

The Dynamism, and Dysfunction, of Los Angeles

That's where authors Nathan Cherry and Kurt Nagle found their inspiration for their new book about urban form. Grid/Street/Place.

January 31, 2010 - The Huffington Post

Will The Economy Leave Port-au-Prince With Its People?

More than a million Haitians have fled the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and government officials are advising them to stay out of the city. But many question if these provincial cities will be able to provide jobs and economic opportunities.

January 30, 2010 - The Christian Science Monitor

The Citywide Impact of New Orleans' Trip to the Super Bowl

New Orleans has had a rough couple of years. But now that the city's professional football team is headed to the Super Bowl, the city is relishing the opportunity to celebrate.

January 30, 2010 - The New York Times

Gov 2.0 On the Rise

Twitter, iPhones, and new sites like SeeClickFix make it increasingly easy for citizens and governments to communicate. Along with newly available data sets, these "Gov 2.0" apps may signal a new era of active citizens and responsive governments.

January 29, 2010 - CNN

Can't Get Architecture Work? Build It Yourself

John Portman is a rare breed: an architect/developer. In his 60 years in the business, he developed retail centers, hotel atriums, and Atlanta's Peachtree Center. The Architect's Newspaper talked to him about his career.

January 28, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Bailing Out the Mortgage Market

The housing market -- and especially the exurban housing market -- played a major role in bringing about the current economic recession, according to this piece from Christopher Leinberger. He says sprawl is unlikely to regain its lost value.

January 28, 2010 - The New Republic

California HSR Gets $2.25 Billion Boost

A huge boost for the CA High Speed Rail project will result from an injection of $2.25 billion from President Obama's $8 billion HSR stimulus funds, twice as much as any other project.

January 28, 2010 - Mercury News

Notes on Structural Change: Redefining the Problem of Weak Markets

The foreclosure crisis spreading across America has burdened cities and neighborhoods with value-draining vacancies and abandoned properties. To counteract the economic havoc they've caused, planners and policymakers must focus on restoring confidence in the market, according to neighborhood planning consultants Charles Buki and Elizabeth Humphrey Schilling.

January 28, 2010 - Charles Buki

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.