Community / Economic Development

Smart Growth Suburbia?

The Lighthouse at Long Island is a proposed 5.5 million sq. ft. of mixed-use development covering 150 acres of Nassau County. The developers see it as a new form of smart growth suburbia.

June 19, 2009 - The New York Times

Retailers Fleeing Detroit

As recently as the turn of this century, retailers were taking a chance on downtown Detroit. But today, Starbucks, Borders and others are pulling their stores out.

June 19, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Fresh in Philly

Philadelphians (and the Obama administration) sing the praises of the city's Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which works to bring healthy produce and groceries to underserved locations.

June 18, 2009 - Philadelphia Daily News

Sidewalks Key Factor Influencing Physical Activity

A new study provides further evidence that incorporating sidewalks into existing neighborhoods is a practical and inexpensive way of encouraging people to exercise.

June 18, 2009 - SDSU NewsCenter

Some Cities 'Too Much Fun'

With job cuts and cost-saving measures the watchword of the day, cities like Orlando and Las Vegas are fighting their fun-loving image to attract serious-minded conventioneers.

June 18, 2009 - The Orlando Sentinel

Locking Trash Bins to Thwart Scavengers

Residents of Santa Ana neighborhood are locking up their trash bins, hoping to eliminate the noise and trouble brought by scavengers.

June 18, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

How are Cities Experiencing the Recession?

A new Brookings Institution study shows that American cities are experiencing the recession at "radically varying levels."

June 17, 2009 - Huffington Post

US-Arab Annual Cities Forum Next Week

Next week, the Greater Amman Municipality will host activities of the 2nd US-Arab Forum, which will last from June 22 to June 24.

June 17, 2009 - Jordan Times

Urban gardens provide food to Philadelphia residents

Mini-farms across the city boost neighborhood appearances, help low-income residents in tough economic times

June 17, 2009 - Philadelphia Daily News

Neighbors Team Up To Build Community Garden

Residents in an Oxnard neighborhood install a community garden which will provide them with fruits and vegetables.

June 16, 2009 - Ventura County Star

How Rail Spurred A Makeover In Tysons Corner

Tysons Corner is hoping to go from a 9-to-5 work farm to a 24-hour city.

June 16, 2009 - Time

Riding the Rails to CNU

A contingent of California New Urbanists arranged a special trip on Amtrak's California Zephyr in two vintage railcars to the Congress for New Urbanism in Denver. High-level discussion ensued.

June 15, 2009 - The Infrastructurist

The Transformation of Harlem

Photographer Camilo Jose Vergara's pictures document Harlem's journey from a "rundown version of Paris" in the 1970s to the "global Harlem" of luxury condos and corporate franchises [includes slideshow].

June 15, 2009 - Slate

Reinventing America's Cities: Discovering Opportunities by Challenging Biases

Dr. Aseem Inam takes writers on urbanism and architecture to task for spreading stereotypes about "third world cities", particularly when used to generalize about urban form.

June 15, 2009 - Aseem Inam

Horse Tracks Place Bets On Infill Redevelopment

Several horse racing tracks in California have suffered declining revenues and are being redeveloped, with speculation about more closures on the way.

June 14, 2009 - California Planning and Development Report

Driving Less and Flying Less, Too

Figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that the number of nationwide air passengers has declined from the previous year.

June 14, 2009 - SF.STREETSBLOG.org

Transit Operating Aid in War Bill

House and Senate negotiators decided a $106 billion war bill, from which 10 percent would be granted to transit operating costs.

June 14, 2009 - la.streetsblog.org

Regulating Stalled Construction Projects for Safety

New York City is considering new legislation that seeks to address problems brought by the national recession to stalled construction sites and New Yorkers endangered by them.

June 13, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Economic Benefits of Urban Creek Cleaning

Restorationists and environmentalists are placing their focus on urban streams and creeks, which struggle with urban pollution. Working to clean them up is turning out to be a good way to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

June 13, 2009 - High Country News

Friday Funny: Elected to the House, But Abandoned Her Own

Congresswoman Laura Richardson has gotten on the nerves of her Sacramento neighbors, mainly because she's never around. As a result, her home has gone untended and turned into a blight on the neighborhood.

June 12, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

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.