Community / Economic Development
The Vacant Building Syndrome
In this new column, award-winning journalist and author Roberta Brandes Gratz reports on urban development crises around the country and the opportunities they present for positive action.
Sprawl Was One Step Behind
They just wanted to get away from growth and suburban sprawl by moving out to the country, but for residents of the Texas Hill Country, growth and sprawl were not far behind.
Revived Theater Helps Community Bounce Back
Restoring a historic theater in a downtrodden neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, has served to revitalize the neighborhood as well.
Rebuilding A Neighborhood, One Step At A Time
In New Orleans, some devastated neighborhoods are beginning to come back to life. But for those performing the revitalization, it is a long and often lonely path.
Running Out Of Land, Some Suburbs Learning To Build Up
With little land left to develop and a declining population in recent years, suburban cities in Ohio are beginning to accept that the only way they can continue to grow is by building up.
The Rise of the Bike Kitchen
National ridership figures may be down, but grassroots collectives are thriving.
The Redevelopment Of Coney Island
With the sale of the Astroland park, the once popular seaside amusement district is facing an uncertain future.
Why Canon City, Colorado Loves Prisons
The leadership of Canon City agrees that it would be better if there were no need for prisons. But if a prison must be built, Canon City, Colorado, wants to be the host.
African Nations Plan Largest Game Reserve
Five African nations met recently to approve the creation of a game reserve that will be the world's largest protected land area. The countries are hoping the park will serve as a major tourist attraction and source of jobs.
Trouble In A Planning Paradise
A new United Nations report highlights the problems of prosperity and poverty in world's most livable city.
Man Recieves First 'Mississippi Cottage'
David Biggs, a lifelong resident of Moss Point, Mississippi, is overjoyed with his new modular cottage, a marked improvement over FEMA trailers.
Baltimore Seeks A New Street Vision
Planners and officials in Baltimore are looking to recreate one of the city's major streets as a vibrant tourist and retail area. But opinions differ on how to do it and where to look for examples.
Private Philanthropists Funding Recovery In New Orleans
State and federal funding is slowly feeding the recovery of New Orleans, while private foundations and philanthropies are playing an active role in supporting the city's rebuilding. However, much of this money is going to middle-class neighborhoods.
Atlanta Swelling With Coastal Florida Expatriates
Fear of hurricanes, high housing costs, and prohibitive insurance premiums are driving coastal Florida residents north to Atlanta. Real estate agents and developers are happy, but the region is already strained by growth.
Troubled L.A. Suburb Manages Dramatic Turnaround
Through a myriad of efforts -- including helping residents install picket fences -- the once ailing suburb of Paramount, California, is now on the rise.
The Downtown That Doubles As A Movie Set
Downtown Los Angeles has long stood in for other cities in Hollywood movies. But the area's new burgeoning residential population is clashing with movie makers over filming.
Musician's Village Rises In New Orleans
Successful recording artists Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to develop a neighborhood specifically for the city's musicians.
Detroit Riverwalk Ushers In New Redevelopment Model
After pursuing a single-player, single-project strategy for decades, Detroit seems to have found a winning recipe for redevelopment with its new RiverWalk, which stressed regional cooperation from various public, private and non-profit organizations.
How A Blighted Downtown Is Resurrected
Once-blighted areas of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, have seen huge increases in development and property values recently -- a trend many attribute to public initiatives that encourage private investors. But other factors are also causing the boom.
Streetcars Seeding Economic Development Across U.S.
While some decry streetcars as expensive and inefficient, evidence is building in cities across the U.S. that the systems can serve as powerful boons to economic development.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
