Community / Economic Development

Stadium to Nowhere

Kansas City has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in a new indoor arena with the hopes of luring a pro basketball or hockey team. But a year and a half after opening, nobody's biting.

April 17, 2009 - The Atlantic

Luxury Replaces Local Goods and Services in Malibu

As a new luxury retail center replaces a decades-old hardware store in upscale Malibu, California, many worry about the troubled future facing local businesses and services.

April 17, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Census Officials Concerned as Group Urges Migrant Boycott

As a bargaining chip to encourage federal immigration reform, a religious group is calling on undocumented migrant workers to boycott the upcoming U.S. Census. Officials say such a boycott could hurt many cities.

April 17, 2009 - USA Today

Ahead of Itself and Undeveloped

A Washington, D.C. entertainment district was meant to follow the construction of a baseball stadium, but, for now, the area is victim to overly ambitious plans to develop as quickly as possible.

April 17, 2009 - The Washington Post

Urban Gardening and Quality of Life

According to this article, community gardens can reinvent struggling neighborhoods by causing its residents to "band together."

April 16, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

Largest Real Estate Bust In History

General Growth Properties, the 2nd largest mall operator in the nation, declared bankruptcy this morning. The company was felled by mounting debt from short-term mortgages it used to expand its holdings.

April 16, 2009 - The New York Times

Where's the Middle Ground?

Downtown Los Angeles' Figueroa Corridor is getting two new high-rises, the "all" in the area's seemingly "all-or-nothing" approach to development, says Christopher Hawthorne.

April 16, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

The Disproportionate Costs of Resort Developments

A new report out of Oregon suggests that the fiscal costs of successful resort developments significantly outweigh their benefits -- and taxpayers are burdened with the tab. Erik Kancler of Central Oregon LandWatch explains.

April 16, 2009 - Erik Kancler

Politics-Driven Planning Rules Toronto

During a round table discussion between four of Toronto's most prominent architects conclude that the city's planning, deemed dysfunctional by one, falls short.

April 16, 2009 - Toronto Star

Zoning Update in Oakland?

An antiquated set of zoning laws has been at the heart of a debate between preservationists and developers in Oakland for years, though a compromise in the form of new zoning rules may be in the city's near future.

April 15, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Flexibility and Integrity

Portland urban designer Arun Jain has released his Urban Design Framework, a vision that requires planners to give themselves more leeway "without giving up core values."

April 15, 2009 - Daily Journal of Commerce

City Critique in Manhattan

This post features highlights from "Urbanisms Inc.," a forum on urban theory in New York City that took place on March 30.

April 15, 2009 - The New York Times City Room Blog

Towns Falter As Local Civic Leaders Fail

Community businesspeople in Loganville, GA had planned on funding a new park in the town, but with their incomes taking a major hit funds for projects like this are drying up.

April 15, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

Canada's Cities Need More Creativity, Says Richard Florida

In this excerpt from the Canadian edition of "Who's Your City?" author Richard Florida argues that, while Canada's cities have done well to avoid some of the economic disparities of U.S. cities, they will need to work harder still.

April 15, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Hooking Up Gardeners and Backyards

Wait times for a plot of land in one of Santa Monica's community gardens have grown so long that officials are instituting a new program to connect gardeners with homeowners willing to share their backyards.

April 14, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

HUD's Dollar Program Misses Mark, Benefits Contractors and Investors

An L.A. Times investigation reveals that HUD's 10-year-old Dollar Homes program provided little lasting benefit to the intended recipients and significant rewards to investors and contractors.

April 13, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

Health and Human Services Hit Hard in San Francisco

The recession is causing San Francisco to tighten its belt. Budget cuts are falling heavily on the city's health and human services.

April 13, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

One in Nine U.S. Homes Empty

Empty homes are littered in cities across the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine U.S. homes is unoccupied.

April 13, 2009 - USA Today

Urban Alleys Going Green

This article from USA Today looks at the growth of green alleys in the U.S.

April 13, 2009 - USA Today

Booming Saudi Arabia Could Be A Job Goldmine

The Saudi Arabian economy is still prospering, and development is booming. This piece looks at the Kingdom as an opportunity for developers and planners looking for work in tough times.

April 12, 2009 - Building

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.