Community / Economic Development
Tourism 'The New Gold' in Namibia
Impressive growth of visitors from nontraditional places, including China, have now put tourism ahead of gold mining in Namibia.
Creating the 'Live Music Capital'
A 15-member "live music task force" will begin work to try to encourage the growth of a musical economy in Austin, Texas.
China Needs 'Supercities'
A new report calls on China to cluster its development into "supercities" to obtain greater economic prosperity.
Why the Breakdown of Atlantic Yards is a Loss For New York Planning
New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff discusses why the impending breakdown of the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn is a harsh blow to urban planning in New York.
Rebuilding New Orleans by Rebuilding the Education System
This report from NPR looks at the efforts of one educator to help rebuild communities in New Orleans by rebuilding the city's charter school system.
What's in a Name?
The town of Slough gets no respect, but it's trying.
The Movie Star and the Power of Architecture
Actor Brad Pitt's efforts to rebuild housing in New Orleans are not just flashy PR, but rather a reminder that architecture can make a difference, according to this article from Metropolis.
Subprime Tent Cities
This video from the BBC looks at the ten cities that have sprung up outside of L.A. as a result of the subprime mortgage meltdown.
Preserving a Bloody History
An industry is sprouting in Las Vegas based on the preservation of the city's infamous mob history.
Fueling a Town's Future
The small Arkansas town of El Dorado has experienced an economic rebirth since an oil company offered to pay college tuition and fees for all graduating high school seniors.
Iraq War Spending: What Could We Have Built Instead?
Robert Pollin & Heidi Garrett-Peltier writing in The Nation show that the U.S. has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq that could have been much more productively invested in public goods like sustainable infrastructure.
Debate Continues Over New York Street Mall Proposal
Neighborhood opposition is hampering plans to convert a section of New York City's Prince Street into a car-free pedestrian mall every Sunday.
Australia's 'White Flight' and the Rise of the Aborigines
The Aborigine population in Australia is on the rise, and the shift in demographics is posing problems for the country's school system.
Grand Canal Proposed in South Korea
South Korea's new president has proposed the engineering and construction of a huge cross-country canal -- a plan he hopes will revive much of the country's depressed villages and offer an attractive venue for tourists and shipping companies.
In The Ghetto
"Slum tourism" is on the rise in developing countries around the world. Some say the tours help the affluent understand the dire situations faced by the world's poor, but others say it's just a way to help Westerners feel good about themselves.
Neighborhood's Unchecked Facelift Highlights Poor Planning
Poor planning is allowing uncontrolled and rapid gentrification to destroy Toronto's Liberty Village neighborhood, according to this article from The Toronto Star.
Universities Reconnect with Cities
Universities across the country are reviving their connections to their host cities, participating in urban renewal projects and investing in their cities' futures.
High Rising Along Toronto's Lakefront
Officials in Toronto have announced plans to densify the city's waterfront with a redevelopment effort that stands to create high rises along the lakefront.
Public Spaces Key to Flint's Rebirth
With a focus on public spaces, Flint, Michigan, is looking to revitalize itself.
Manhattan: Food Desert?
New York has become a concentration of the super-wealthy, and soaring real estate values are driving out supermarkets. Will street vendors be able to fill the gap?
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
