Community / Economic Development

Banks Abandoning Foreclosed Homes

In cities across the country, banks are ditching out on foreclosed homes, giving more worries -- and bills -- to homeowners.

April 6, 2009 - The New York Times

Unofficial International Olympic Committee Tours Chicago's 2016 Venues

The Chicago Tribune formed its own panel of international judges -- made up of tourists -- to tour and evaluate the city's proposed venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

April 6, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

History Under Threat of Development in Iran

Isfahan is one of Iran's fastest growing cities. But it also has a distinct history -- one that is being threatened by the rapid pace of growth. Now, locals are trying to preserve the city's heritage.

April 5, 2009 - Smithsonian

From Cul-De-Sac to Commune

How do you turn a cul-de-sac into a commune? It's easier than you think, according to this piece from NPR.

April 4, 2009 - NPR

GM Shake-Ups Frazzle Factory Town

Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been a GM factory town for more than 50 years. With the recent ouster of GM CEO Rick Wagoner by the federal government, many in the oft-shaken town are worried about its future.

April 3, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Bronx Boomer

Big-name and big-budget projects in New York are basking in the spotlight, but smaller, community-based projects are also flourishing in the Bronx.

April 2, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

The City Makes a Comeback

Nicolai Ouroussof uses four cities--New Orleans, Los Angeles, The Bronx, and Buffalo--as case studies on how America's urban areas, long neglected, can once again be great.

April 2, 2009 - The New York Times

Vancouver Revisits View Preservation Policy

Amid growing concern that downtown Vancouver's mandated view corridors cost too much development while making too little sense, its planners are once again debating their necessity.

April 2, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Slow and Steady Survives the Recession

Pittsburgh's strategy of slow, steady growth has made it the front runner for sustainable building. The city now boasts the most LEED-certified square footage in the country.

April 2, 2009 - The New York Times

Recession a Bittersweet Thing for Preservationists

Ironically, buildings unable to get funded for preservation due to a recession can also benefit from it: as development overall comes to a stop, so does the wrecking ball.

April 2, 2009 - Architectural Record

Exurbs, the New Rentals

In many areas, housing on the suburban fringe has gone rental. The shift indicates mobility on the part of renters who want to stay put, but could also be a precursor for a low-income future for the exurbs.

March 31, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Can Detroit be Reinvented?

The near-bankruptcy of the American auto industry is just the latest in a long history of challenges Detroit has endured.

March 31, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Miami Seeks Cheaper Finish to Gehry Project

Officials in Miami are looking to cancel out part of a contract with architect Frank Gehry for a park element to the new campus he's designed for the city's New World Symphony. The city wants to find a cheaper alternative, but critics are opposed.

March 31, 2009 - The Miami Herald

Evolution in Industrial Towns

Amid the recession, industrial towns in the Rust Belt have been forced to evolve as jobs dry up. But this is nothing new for the region, where towns have been re-imagining their economies for decades. NPR reports.

March 31, 2009 - NPR

A Blueprint For Making Cities Efficient, Sustainable And Livable

Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, argues that the time is right for a new vision of rebirth for America's ailing cities. He applies this new vision to the challenges of New Orleans, Los Angeles, the Bronx, and Buffalo.

March 30, 2009 - The New York Times

Small Gardens Have Room to Grow

Small farms are getting some attention from the Obama Administration, but what's still holding them back is the proper infrastructure, according to this piece from Citiwire.

March 30, 2009 - Citiwire

One City, Two New Stadia

Paul Goldberger looks at the two new baseball stadia opening in New York this Spring.

March 30, 2009 - The New Yorker

Ports Weather Recession as Investments Pour In

The entire country is in recession, but the nation's ports are experiencing a flood of interest from investors, according to this article from Reason.

March 30, 2009 - Reason Foundation

Without Rail, Sydney Will Fall Behind Global Cities

Without a proper light rail system, Sydney will get left behind as other global cities progress into a diverse transit future, according to planning expert Peter Newman.

March 29, 2009 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Facing Climate Change, U.N. To Propose Major Economic Reforms

In response to the widening threat of climate change, the United Nations will release a note of suggestions that propose a dramatic change in global economic relations, tarriffs, and taxes, according to this piece from Fox News.

March 28, 2009 - FOX News

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.