Community / Economic Development

Cairo's Downfall

Downtown Cairo has undergone a steady decline in recent years, with more slums developing and more beggars filling the streets. This article from Bloomberg says there are many reasons for the decline.

July 16, 2008 - Bloomberg

New Anchor For New Orleans

New Orleans officials say they have enough grants and private funds to move forward on a "Great Lawn" park for the city, functioning as a gathering place and a link to other attractions.

July 16, 2008 - New Orleans Times-Picayune

A Scandal At The Nation's Largest Community Organizing Group?

The New York Times reported last week that the country's largest and most successful progressive community organizing group covered up a $1 million embezzlement. Peter Dreier and John Atlas put the controversy in the larger context.

July 15, 2008 - The Huffington Post

The Best Places to Live in America

CNN Money has released its ranking of the best places to live.

July 15, 2008 - CNN Money

Preservation vs. Revitalization in Seattle

Planners in Seattle want to add housing to Little Saigon, a neighborhood with a strong Vietnamese culture, without disrupting the district's character or displacing residents.

July 15, 2008 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Can the Colombian Renaissance Be Sustained?

Globalization has spurned a renaissance in the formerly crime-ridden Colombian city of Medellin. But some worry that the city's improvements may only be temporary.

July 13, 2008 - The Washington Post

'The Loop' is Back

Chicago's Loop is becoming a hot neighborhood.

July 11, 2008 - Reuters

Chickens Aren't Just For Countrysides Anymore

Residents of Austin, TX are risking violation of city ordinances forbidding loud animals to raise chickens in their central city neighborhood backyards. It's partly a way to cut out-of-pocket expenses.

July 11, 2008 - Austin American-Statesman

Where Do Child Care Centers Belong?

A Houston bedroom community decides against allowing childcare centers to mix with other businesses in strip centers.

July 11, 2008 - The Houston Chronicle

Real Estate Broker Takes Heat in Changing Harlem

Harlem is undergoing a rapid change in terms of demographics and income levels. One real estate broker is at the front of driving this change, and many in the neighborhood are not happy about it. But is this change avoidable?

July 11, 2008 - New York Magazine

New WTO Rules Could Threaten City Planning

July 10, 2008 - Ellen Gould and Andrew Pask

Do Cities Have Room For Golf Courses?

Stakeholders in Austin debate the future of a public golf course in the center of town while the University of Texas, owner of the land, debates whether to seek greater profits off the land. Neighbors champion the course as vital open space.

July 9, 2008 - Austin American-Statesman

A Public Housing Experiment Faces Problems

The Chicago Tribune examines what became of an ambitious city project, led by Mayor Daley, to revolutionize public housing. Private developers received public funding to tear down old projects and replace them with mixed-use neighborhoods.

July 9, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

What's In A Neighborhood's Name?

Officials in Los Angeles have renamed the former "South Central" to remove the stigma of riots in the 1990's. But some business owners and residents say that's had a greater negative consequence than keeping the old name would have.

July 9, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Theaters Catalyze Downtown Development

Former single-screen cinemas in New York City and Long Island are reopening as multi-use art centers and helping to stimulate the revitalization of dormant downtowns.

July 7, 2008 - Newsday

Corner Store Signs: Are They Blight?

Dallas's city council passed an ordinance restricting the percentage of window space a storefront can use for advertisements. Council members say the signs are creating or adding to blight.

July 7, 2008 - Dallas Morning News

Smart Growth in Sacramento

The Wall Street Journal looks at this "smart growth" thing.

July 7, 2008 - Wall St. Journal

Controversial $3 Billion Queens Redevelopment Plan Clears Hurdle

It's known as the Iron Triangle, though some call the sewerless 13-block collection of auto junkyards just east of Shea Stadium an eyesore and disgrace. A controversial application of eminent domain is at the heart of the $3 billion makeover plan.

July 7, 2008 - Queens Chronicle

America's Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods

Forbes works with the Center for Neighborhood Technology to find the best neighborhoods to get around affordably.

July 4, 2008 - Forbes

Wal-Mart To Cut Costs, Selling Local Fruits and Veggies

In an effort to reduce shipping costs, Wal-Mart is cutting its food miles and passing the savings on to customer by selling locally grown produce.

July 3, 2008 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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.

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.