Community / Economic Development

Cohousing Projects Increasing Nationwide

Land has been purchased for what will be Oakland's fourth cohousing project, a collection of about 33 housing units with an underlying purpose of cooperation and community. Similar community housing projects are cropping up across the country.

December 12, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

River Restoration Begins In California

In California, the largest river restoration project in the West has begun as water formerly directed from the Owens River to the Los Angeles Aqueduct is rerouted along 62 miles of its original path to Owens Lake in Central California.

December 11, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

A Career In Brownfields

A innovative training program in Boston is helping people get better jobs cleaning up the environment.

December 10, 2006 - The Boston Globe

Has Bringing Housing To Downtown Oakland Hurt The City?

Outgoing Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown's plan to add 10,000 residents to its downtown hasn't succeeded in its original goal -- to boost the city's revenue from sales taxes.

December 10, 2006 - Berkeley Planet

Residents Team Up To Prevent Unwanted Zoning Change

A block of neighborhood-minded Baltimore residents has pressured the city's zoning board to reject a plan to create a community service center nearby that offers job training and AIDS counseling, despite the area's need for economic investment.

December 10, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Do-It-Yourself Urban Planning

A new urban design center in St. Paul, Minnesota, allows residents to try their hand at city planning in hopes of educating the public about managing growth and development.

December 8, 2006 - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Economic Development Incentives Aren't City Friendly In Michigan

A new report concludes that economic incentives provided by the State of Michigan to foster job growth hurt cities by creating jobs in outlying areas.

December 7, 2006 - Lansing Bureau

Can Oakland Lead The Green Economy?

Oakland's new progressive mayor and the Oakland Apollo Alliance are working to turn that city's fortunes around through "green collar" jobs and "green enterprise zones".

December 7, 2006 - Yes! Magazine

Changing Auto Industry Links The Fates Of Two Towns

While Rustbelt cities cope with job losses at ailing U.S. auto makers, the south is benefiting from Asian auto makers' success.

December 6, 2006 - The New York Times

Taking The Pulse Of Middle Market Neighborhoods

Policymakers in Memphis, Tennessee, are taking a closer look at the housing market in middle-income neighborhoods that are increasingly destabilizing due to neglect.

December 6, 2006 - The Brookings Institution

Downtown Memphis Looks To Sports Arena To Spur Development

Piecemeal development has occurred around the FedEx Forum in Downtown Memphis, but a major project from a potential new owner of the city's NBA team has boosters excited.

December 5, 2006 - Memphis Commercial-Appeal

Online Property Database Could Fuel Growth

Economic development leaders are touting a soon to be launched Internet database of hundreds of properties in 10 Western Pennsylvania counties around Pittsburgh as a valuable tool to attract companies and jobs.

December 5, 2006 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Revue

What Philly Can Learn From New York's Waterfront

A recent trip to New York's Hudson River Park has opened the eyes of Philadelphia residents looking to redevelop their city's waterfront along the Delaware River. But in comparing the waterfronts of the two cities, Philly's lacks a sense of purpose.

December 5, 2006 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Local Business Suffers As Council Calls For Economic Safe Bet

The city council in Oxford, England, is considering replacing what's left of its local businesses and public spaces with city-revenue-generating corporate chains and retail outlets.

December 5, 2006 - New Statesman

Small Town Pins Economic Hopes On Ethanol And Other Renewables

Mayor Al Christianson of Washburn, North Dakota, hopes to capitalize on the burst of interest in exploiting renewable, traditional, and alternative energy resources that are abundant in the Northern Plains.

December 4, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Infrastructure Projects Can Save America's Middle Class

Joel Kotkin and David Friedman believe investing in massive infrastructure projects can save the nation's middle and working classes.

December 4, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Church Pins Hope On Downtown Growth

The historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral looks to downtown Miami residential growth as a way to fill its half-empty pews.

December 2, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Shrinking Smart: A New Planning Paradigm?

How to adequately plan for cities in decline is a growing problem that has received little attention.

December 1, 2006 - Governing Magazine

Wal Mart Supercenters Banned in San Diego

A law banning large retail stores, intended to keep WalMart Supercenters out of the city, is approved by San Diego officials.

December 1, 2006 - Yahoo News and Associated Press

Measuring The Impact Of Universities

Describing the impact of universities can be challenging for both higher education and Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED). Two new reports demonstrate the importance of higher education institutions to a local economy.

November 30, 2006 - State Science & Technology Institute

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.