Community / Economic Development
Kunstler Receives Seaside Prize
Attendees packed the room for the presentation of the Seaside Prize to James Howard Kunstler and to hear new urbanist luminaries discuss the current state of the economy.
Inland Empire Seeks Solutions to Foreclosure Crisis
Ron Loveridge, the mayor of the Inland Empire's largest city, Riverside, details how regional and local leaders are working to recover from the effects of the foreclosure crisis.
Subsidize Green Neighborhoods, Not Green Cars
DC writer Alec Dubro questions the pursuit of the green car, concluding we should cease its financial support. Though people may prefer the car culture, it would make more sense to pursue a ‘post car future’, citing Portland’s compact neighborhoods.
Study Finds Quality of Life Undamaged by Wal-Mart
The arrival of a town's new Wal-Mart is notorious for being detrimental to the community. But when it comes to social capital, obesity, leisure time, and social and political values, Wal-Mart might not be so bad after all, according to one study.
What Future Awaits the Suburbs?
The suburbs are struggling right now, but they are still around, physically. Allison Arieff asks what will happen to them next?
Peter Calthorpe's Stimulus Prescription
In this op-ed, Peter Calthorpe warns against a massive investment to stimulate sprawl as was done after WWII. He notes 3 areas that need smart investment to make the American Dream sustainable: urban transit, environment, and multi-family housing.
Branded Spaces Spreading
"Branded cities" -- new heavily-sponsored real estate developments with a mix of live- work- and retail-space -- are gaining popularity among developers and spreading around the country.
City Buys Homes For Homeless
The city of Dallas is committing to purchase homes for hundreds of homeless residents, rather than building shelters.
D.C. Rising
As other power cities struggle through the recession and fall from grace, now may be Washington D.C.'s time to shine, according to Joel Kotkin.
The Downtown Shooting Star Sputters
Less than a year ago, downtown Los Angeles was seen as a rising star, on a path towards becoming a vibrant and humming urban core. But the economic dive has stalled many projects, and they could be stalled for quite a while, according to this column.
Grassroots Tour Organizers Knock Down "Environmental Racism"
An organization in Chicago's Little Village gives tours to educate its Mexican-American residents on how they can improve their notoriously polluted community. Grassroots efforts like this are being lauded by environmental justice groups.
With No Projects Ready, Metro Boise to Miss Transportation Funds
Congress is expected to offer up to $16 million of stimulus money to the state of Idaho for transportation projects. But in the Treasure Valley -- home to Boise and a third of the state's population -- there aren't any projects that are ready to go.
Coastal-Heartland Energy Divide (Amongst Democrats)
It's not Blue vs. Red, but Green vs. Brown when it comes to energy policy debates on Capitol Hill.
California Towns Bailout Car Dealerships
Too important to fail? Victorville and Norco, CA have approved loans to local car dealers to keep them afloat.
The Green Stimulus Plan- In Canada
A proposal for a comprehensive green stimulus plan, backed by a powerful group of environmentalists, unions, and associations, was submitted to Canada's Prime Minister Harper last week.
Top Ten Enlightened Suburbs
Peter Katz and Jay Walljasper pick ten notable suburbs that are breaking the mold and creating new, vibrant communities.
Real Estate Bust, Part II
America is not just overspent, it is over-malled, and the next wave of foreclosures will hit retail and other commercial real estate.
Blight Affects School Performance
A new study in Britain makes the connection between blighted environments and poor school performance.
Stimulus Disappoints Transit Advocates
Hopes are fading from transit enthusiasts who wanted to see high speed rail and public transit profit from Obama's stimulus package. Even the road lobby is disappointed that infrastructure will get less than tax cuts and state bail-outs.
What's Next for the Cityburbs?
The line between suburb and city blurs as suburbs struggle with the problems of the cities' past. But there's hope, say this article's authors, who make a case for regionalism and government's active role in reinventing such struggling places.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
