Community / Economic Development

Atlanta's Intown Population Explosion Fueled By Suburbanites?

The head of Atlanta's most prominent development firm expects transplanted suburbanites to balloon the city's intown population to over 800,000 by 2020. These numbers far exceed Atlanta's regional planning agency forecasts of 650,000 residents.

October 12, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Corporate America's Health Food Push In The Inner City

Despite assurances by Pepsi and other conglomerates that their new inner-city strategies are driven by good intentions, critics say profit is an even bigger motive.

October 11, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Katrina Evacuees Face Tough Time In Texas

More Katrina evacuees went to Texas than any other state except Louisiana. A year later, many of them are in limbo.

October 11, 2006 - Shelterforce Magazine

Mixed-Use Development Heats Up In Miami

Miami residents and developers alike are discovering the advantage of mixed-use development.

October 10, 2006 - The Miami Herald

The Omaha Model Of Urban Design

Omaha, Nebraska, may be leading the way for cities around the country to integrate urban design with their master plans. Omaha's far-reaching urban design standards could be law by the year's end.

October 10, 2006 - Metropolis Magazine

11 States To Vote On Challenging Kelo

Eleven states have initiatives on their ballots this fall that could go against 2005's Supreme Court eminent domain decision in the case of Kelo v. New London.

October 9, 2006 - USA Today

Retirement Migration as an Economic Development Tool

Can retirement migration be a replacement for former industries?

October 9, 2006 - The Charlotte Observer

Interview: New York City Planning Director Amanda Burden

Planetizen talks with city planning officials to get an insider's perspective on the planning issues facing cities. The first subject of this question-and-answer series is New York City Department of City Planning Director Amanda M. Burden.

October 9, 2006 - Nate Berg

Atlanta Joins Cities Looking To Boost Gay Tourism

With an estimated $50 billion spent by gay men and lesbians on travel in 2005, Atlanta joins a list of other major cities looking to tap into this lucrative market.

October 9, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Is Chinatown Dying?

Why Chinatowns across North America are becoming less relevant.

October 9, 2006 - Maisonneuve

Improved Neighborhoods Don't Raise Academic Achievement

The results of a large scale experiment seem to indicate that better neighborhoods don't actually result in an improvement in academic performance for any age group.

October 8, 2006 - National Bureau Of Economic Research

Virginia's New Economic Development Plan: Broadband For Every Business

Each of Virginia's governors is required to establish an Economic Development Strategic Plan during the first year in office.

October 7, 2006 - State of Virginia, Secretary of Commerce

New York Limits Eminent Domain By Private Companies

The new law appears to have been crafted to stop a $1.6 billion power transmission line.

October 7, 2006 - The New York Times

U.K. Waterfront Seeks International Acclaim

In a trend being seen all over the world, planners are looking to the waterfront in Plymouth, England, for redevelopment as a site worthy of international acclaim.

October 6, 2006 - BBC

Vancouver Receives Mixed Report Card

A new report by the Vancouver Foundation gives the city high marks for livability, but identifies housing and poverty as persistent challenges.

October 6, 2006 - The Vancouver Sun

Sauget, Illinois: Home Of The 'YIMBY-ists'

Give us your strip-clubs, your benzene and dioxin-spewing chemical plants, say Sauget, Illinois officials.

October 5, 2006 - Wall Street Journal via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Student Film Captures The Nature Of A 'Lively' Downtown

In the same vein as Jane Jacobs and William Whyte, Kirk Westphal, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan's Taubman School of Urban Planning, analyzes the success and failures of downtown Ann Arbor.

October 5, 2006 - Ann Arbor News

Waterfront Renewal Plan Chosen For D.C.

A developer has been chosen to transform Washington D.C.'s Southwest Waterfront. The chosen firm has high hopes for making the waterfront into a world-class attraction, but also protecting the interests of the local community.

October 5, 2006 - Nate Berg

Mormon Church Has Big Plans For Salt Lake City

The Mormon Church has unveiled major plans for urban renewal in Salt Lake City, recently presenting its vision for a walkable and mixed-use development complete with housing, commercial uses and public space.

October 5, 2006 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Venezuela's Urban Poor Reap Benefits of Oil Wealth

Venezuela's oil wealth is enabling massive new investments in that country's cities that are mostly benefiting the urban poor. But there are concerns that the strategy is risky and not economically sustainable.

October 5, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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.