Community / Economic Development

A Call for More Docks on the Hudson

Cities along the Hudson River in New York are pushing plans to build more docks along the waterfront.

October 20, 2009 - The New York Times

Recession Changing Geography of Poverty

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that the first year of the recession has taken a harsh toll and that these impacts are being particularly felt in three key regions in the country.

October 20, 2009 - ABC

Japan Seeks to End Wasteful Spending on Projects, Meets Local Opposition

Japan wants to end its spending on wasteful construction projects, which are the cause of the country's massive debt. But for one small town on the verge of losing a dam, the "wasteful" project is the center of the local economy.

October 19, 2009 - The New York Times

Testing Grounds

Housing development, architecture and community building have found a new learning lab in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

October 19, 2009 - The Atlantic

LEED-ND Is Go

LEED for Neighborhood Design (LEED-ND) is approved to become a permanent certification program.

October 18, 2009 - New Urban News

From Memories to Master Plans

Maine mill town asks citizens to record their memories at downtown "Heart Spots" as part of the master planning process.

October 18, 2009 - The Journal Tribune

42nd Street Light Rail?

Vision 42 has proposed closing NYC's 42nd Street to car traffic and adding light rail along its length. The Mayor isn't interested, but lots of others are.

October 17, 2009 - The New York Times

Is Bright Right or Blight?

A proposal to create a new outdoor advertising district in San Francisco has some locals anticipating a retail revival, while others dread the possible billboard blight.

October 16, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

LaHood to Detroit: Don't Worry About High-Speed Rail

Speaking to the Detroit Economic Club recently, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood addressed high-speed rail, Detroit's bus crisis, and the economic future of the area.

October 16, 2009 - Crain's Detroit Business

Bypassing the Blockade: Risky Business

In order to cope with the Israeli blockade, millions of dollars have been invested in tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. Israel has bombed many of them. Now investors want their money back.

October 14, 2009 - BBC News

Economic Development or Poaching Business?

States across the US are stepping up their efforts to attract business from outside their borders. New Hampshire woos investors from its neighbors and the California-Nevada rivalry heats up.

October 14, 2009 - BBC News

Of Felonies, the First Amendment, and Franks

A successful small business in Chicago has ruffled some feathers in a neighborhood grappling with crime and poverty. Why? Because Felony Franks is too unsavory a name, even for a hot dog stand that employs ex-convicts.

October 14, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

El Paso to Walk the Walk

Citing a recent study that demonstrates higher home values in walkable neighborhoods, officials in El Paso say it's time to change the way their city grows.

October 14, 2009 - El Paso Times

There's No Place Like Home

Joel Kotkin sees a trend in a 'New Localism'- people aren't moving around like they used to, and it's causing them to reengage with their communities.

October 13, 2009 - Newsweek

Philly Suburb Cities Feeling the Pinch

Townships surrounding Philadelphia have managed to survive the recession until now, but city coffers are now going into the red and cities are being forced to take action.

October 13, 2009 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Mega-Regions Rule the World

Richard Florida notes that there are only 40 significant mega-regions that drive the global economy, and are poised for faster recovery from the economic slowdown.

October 13, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Bank Lending Habits Hurting TOD

Transit oriented development is having a hard time taking hold in Salt Lake City. Some say the parking preferences of lenders are to blame.

October 12, 2009 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Food Deserts in Los Angeles

A coalition of community groups in L.A. has banded together to address the lack of access to healthy food in sections of East and South Central Los Angeles.

October 12, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Real Work to Begin on Rio's Olympic Plans

Rio de Janeiro has been named the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now, the city has to start making its Olympic promises come true.

October 11, 2009 - USA Today

How to Make Housing Affordable

Avi Friedman has some ideas of how to make housing more affordable. He says that the focus is too much on the mortgage and subsidies side and not enough on lower building costs.

October 10, 2009 - Northwest Hub

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.