Community / Economic Development
Urban Revival By Mini-Golf
Looking to its past as a quaint post-World War II suburb, the now-urban village of Ballston in Arlington, Virginia, is considering an unconventional approach to improving economic and social activity: miniature golf.
'Hug-A-Thug' Model Wins Praise For Getting Dealers Off The Street
An initiative by the High Point, North Carolina police department has shown results in cleaning up a drug-riddled neighborhood by using "soft" pressure from families and community members to change behaviors.
The Other Thai Uprising
The new Thai military junta is freezing big box stores expansion programs in an effort to protect the remaining small stores.
Scotland Looks To Reform Planning Practices
Scotland may be on the cusp of overhauling its planning practices, which are now seen as cumbersome, exclusive, and outdated.
Performance Art Park Prompts Observers To Rethink Urban Open Space
A group of urban design activists in San Francisco create a green rest stop in a public parking space -- arguing that we should rethink what public space needs to be in dense urban areas.
New York City's Affordable Housing Wizard
Shaun Donovan, commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, is winning cheers for his innovative thinking as he works to meet the city's ambitious housing goals.
Charlotte Hopes For Transit-Oriented Development
While the city's light-rail system is plagued with construction delays and cost overruns, developers are waiting in the wings with plans for urban transit villages along the line.
Who's Rebuilding New Orleans?
The reconstruction of New Orleans is also reconfiguring the city's demographics.
Uruguay: Latin America's New Outsourcing Capital
With a population of only three million, Uruguay has rapidly become Latin America's outsourcing hub. In partnership with one of India's largest technology consulting firms, engineers in Montevideo work while their counterparts in Mumbai sleep.
Promoting Green 'Rebuilding' In New Orleans
The winning of a housing design competition sponsored by actor Brad Pitt end environmental non-profit Global Green USA demonstrates how eco-friendly architecture can remake New Orleans.
Detroit's Lafayette Park: An Urban Renewal Success Story
Designed in the 1960s as part of a wave of largely unsuccessful urban renewal projects across the U.S., this continuously thriving mixed-income and racially integrated community just east of downtown Detroit stands as a model of good urban design.
A Major Setback For Atlanta's Beltline Project
Atlanta's proposed transit and recreation loop using largely abandoned rail lines as a spur to economic development was dealt a damaging blow as a suburban developer backed out of plans to build condo towers along the line.
Henry Cisneros Leading The Creation Of Workforce Housing
Despite a scandal-plagued post-Clinton-Cabinet professional career, Henry Cisneros has emerged as one of the nation's top affordable-housing developers. Now, "traditional" development companies are also edging into the market.
Friday Funny: Celebrating New Orleans' Recovery
An animation by Mark Fiore reviews the New Orleans rebuilding effort.
Creating A Spirit Of Place
During its short history, the University of New Mexico at Taos has developed a campus spirit that reflects and complements its surrounding community and environment.
The Wal-Mart Battle In Southern California
A Wal-Mart supercenter celebrates its opening in Rosemead, while the city of Long Beach joins a growing list of cities that have adopted measures making it harder for mega-stores to open.
It's The Middle Class, Not The Creative Class
Joel Kotkin argues that cities need to win back the middle class by focusing on their basic needs -- affordable 'market-rate' housing, schools, and public infrastructure -- if they are to be genuinely successful at urban revitalization.
Are We In The Midst Of A Downtown Comeback?
The heyday of the American downtown was short -- from 1880-1920, so if we are experiencing a downtown 'comeback', exactly what are we coming back from? Guest blogger Michael Manville examines the what, how and why of downtown revitalization.
Waiting For Recovery, Eager To Plan
More than half of the residents in the small unincorporated community of Henderson Point, Mississippi, turned out to help begin planning for the rebuilding of their completely devastated community.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
