Community / Economic Development

Where The Gas Gouging Buck Stops

Local gas station owners are hurt as much or more than consumers by high gas prices, as they lose business when gas companies force them to raise their prices.

May 29, 2006 - Philadelphia City Paper

Detroit-Canada Bridge Could Link City To Profits

Although some community members oppose the laborious and expensive physical construction process, many realize that the economic development benefits will be important.

May 29, 2006 - Detroit Metro Times

Courting Business With Websites And Zoning Overlays

Southern California cities are using technology and other innovative techniques to promote economic development and attract local companies.

May 27, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

How To Grow The Next Silicon Valley

Essayist and programmer Paul Graham writes about how cities can create great hi-tech communities that attract dynamic startups.

May 26, 2006 - Paul Graham

Hercules Vs. Wal-Mart: An Eminent Domain Battle

Hercules, CA, threatens to use eminent domain to keep out retail giant Wal-Mart.

May 26, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

How (Not) To Be Friendly To Small Businesses

Smaller cities across Southern California, like Santa Clarita, have discovered that being friendly to small businesses yields big rewards, especially when the mammoth City of Los Angeles is too big to care.

May 25, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Walkable Urbanity Arrives In Atlanta

The success of Atlantic Station, a large scale mixed-use urban development, proves the need for a more pedestrian friendly environment in auto-dominated Atlanta.

May 25, 2006 - The New York Times

Wal-Mart Victim Of Eminent Domain?

The city council of Hercules, CA, votes unanimously to use eminent domain to take Wal-Mart's land and stop it from building a store.

May 25, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Redefining The New Urbanism In The Context Of Katrina

Author Matt Dellinger examines the work of the New Urbanists in Mississippi and Louisiana, and whether or not New Urbanism has reached the tipping point in terms of wider acceptance.

May 24, 2006 - Oxford American

The New Urbanists' Losing Battle For Biloxi

The New York Times Magazine critiques the efforts of New Urbanists to redesign Biloxi, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina, referring to the group as "faintly cultish".

May 24, 2006 - The New York Times

Comparing Growth In China And India

The Financial Times presents an interesting comparative analysis of growth policies and past trends in China and India and comments on their future impacts.

May 23, 2006 - The Financial Times

Ethanol Plant Restores Hope To Depressed Upstate New York Town

Can an ethanol plant restore economic vitality to a depressed, upstate New York farming and former railroad community? That is the hope for the state's first ethanol plant, which breaks ground next month.

May 21, 2006 - The New York Times

A Tale Of Two University Campus Edges

How can two major universities improve themselves and their surroundings? The University of Cincinnati and UC-Berkeley have some productive plans.

May 20, 2006 - Cincinnati Enquirer, San Francisco Chronicle

'Edge of the Abyss': Review of Mike Davis' 'Planet of Slums'

This week's bloody shootout in Sao Paulo between gangs and the police is a sign of the coming global "urban hell" as described in Mike Davis' new book, "Planet of Slums".

May 20, 2006 - Asia Times

Neal Peirce: Illegal Immigration And Economic Potential

Neal Peirce looks at opportunities for economic growth and jobs in the new cross-border culture.

May 19, 2006 - The Washington Post Writers Group

From The Illinois River To The River Nile

A new development at the confluence of the River Nile has brought an Illinois planner back to her native country of Sudan.

May 19, 2006 - ILAPA News BLAST!

Do Industrial Development Agencies Work?

Only a third of the projects supported by six Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) around New York met their job creation goals, according to a report by the state comptroller's office. Is this another nail

May 18, 2006 - Office of the New York State Comptroller

Neighborhood Covenants Can Legally Prevent McMansions

A neighborhood homeowner's association in Denver rejected a proposal for an out-of-scale home redevelopment, and the decision was upheld by a District Court judge.

May 18, 2006 - Denver Business Journal

Does Wal-Mart Increase Poverty Rates?

A new study claims that Wal-Mart raises poverty rates in the counties where its stores are located.

May 17, 2006 - Social Science Quarterly

The Decline And Fall Of Landover Mall - Who's To Blame?

The Landover Mall, located next to a Capital Beltway interchange in Prince George's County, Maryland, and owned by Lerner Enterprises (a firm that has managed many successful mall centers, including Tysons Corner) has long been considered a blight.

May 17, 2006 - The Washington Post

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.