Community / Economic Development
Dealing With Vacant Mansions in London
In a posh borough of London, empty homes are causing problems for officials, who are tasked with finding the owners of these vacant or abandoned mansions.
Prayer at City Council
The ACLU and local clergy are fighting over the prayers recited at City Council meetings in San Marcos, Texas, near Austin.
The Bust of Williamsburg
Sales in Brooklyn are down, and that's made a ghost town out of the recently booming but now busted Williamsburg neighborhood.
7-Eleven Opening Stores, Not Closing Them
The convenience store announced it would open 200 new stores this year. A rep said that attractive locations had opened up for the retailer that were previously too expensive.
Chattanooga Turns To Bicycles To Help Homeless
Bicycles are being collected and distributed to Chattanooga's homeless in an attempt to improve their quality of life.
Obama on Urban Affairs
Via the White House, here are the President's opening remarks at yesterday's roundtable discussions with the Office of Urban Affairs and the Domestic Policy Council. He highlighted success stories in Denver, Kansas City, and Philadelphia.
Hopes Cautiously Pinned on Redevelopment
Federal stimulus money is bringing a new health center to a Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Locals are hopeful that the new development will add some prosperity to their poor area, but nobody's especially confident that it will.
New Orleans Debates Highway To Boulevard Project
According to a new draft master plan, the Clairborne Expressway may be the next freeway to join the nation's growing highway to boulevard movement.
Cities Creating Land Banks to Deal with Vacant Properties
Abandoned and foreclosed properties are plaguing many cities. Now some are trying to turn the blight into prosperity by creating land banks to hold, remodel or demolish the properties -- and pull in some revenue while they're at it.
Don't Fear the 'Dozer
Opinions are flying in the debate over whether or not ailing cities like Detroit should bulldoze their empty neighborhoods. John Kromer of the Fels Institute of Government adds a rational note with this op-ed, explaining what The Flint Model for shrinking cities actually entails.
The City That Killed Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's life would have been incredibly different (read: more normal) and lasted longer if he lived in New York instead of L.A., argues Gigi Levangie Grazer. She says the isolating qualities of L.A. enabled the downfall of the King of Pop.
United States of Bankruptcy
Budget issues are causing major issues for a handful of states. Neal Peirce argues these budget woes are a sign that states are making the wrong investments and that they idea of a state may be out of date.
No Community Pool? Go Dumpster Diving!
Artists in Brooklyn are filling a void by converting construction dumpsters into swimming pools.
Private Ads in Public Spaces
The new public plazas in New York City have gained much popularity among locals -- and earned much money for the city. Officials have been renting out the spaces to advertisers, blurring the lines between public and private.
The Secret To Reactivating Retail: Fountains?
Fountains are highly effective at attracting shoppers, say retail operators REIT Macerich. Their annual survey of 7,000 shoppers says that shoppers connect fountains with a positive shopping experience.
The Mud House Boom and Bust
The housing boom has busted in a tiny village in the West African country of Guinea, where homebuilders had constructed rows of new mud houses in hopes of cashing in on the rising demand for housing and its rising costs. Now, they sit empty.
Next Steps for Shrinking Cities: Results of the Planetizen Brainstorm
Bulldoze? Densify? Walk away? There are many ways cities can react to shrinking populations and abandoned neighborhoods. Planetizen readers decide which ways are the best.
Putting Stimulus Dollars to Work
Economic improvement projects funded by the stimulus are moving full steam ahead -- in France.
Main Street Beating the Odds
Niles, Michigan has managed to build jobs and add businesses to its Main Street over the past five years. How did they do it? Wayne Senville of the Planning Commissioners Journal stopped by on his tour around the U.S.A.
Growing A Sustainable Urban Movement
The New York Times Magazine profiles Will Allen, the urban farmer from Wisconsin who recently received the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grant for his work in agriculture.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
