Community / Economic Development

Detroit's Finest Landmarks Receive Controversial Super Bowl Cleanup

The City of Detroit's effort to put a better face on the downtown for Super Bowl Sunday has its share of critics, as most of the $12 million set aside for streetscape and building facade improvement has gone to locations that need it the least.

December 24, 2005 - The Detroit News

How Does A City Develop A Brand?

Smart City Radio investigates why the branding of cities is so often done so poorly,

December 24, 2005 - Smart City Radio

How To Privatize the Inner City

Could allowing homeowners in a community to pool their property for sale to a private developer be a suitable alternative to eminent domain powers?

December 24, 2005 - Forbes

Manhattan's Biotech Bid

Can a California REIT find happiness (i.e., tenants) for a big biotech building on the East River?

December 22, 2005 - The Slatin Report

CA Redevelopment Head Weighs in on Kelo

Law, public perception, and public benefit diverge in the wake of the Kelo decision. John Shirey attempts to explain what Kelo does -- and does not -- mean for redevelopment and its use of eminent domain.

December 20, 2005 - The Planning Report

'Mall Backlash' A Growing Trend

Old-style downtowns benefit from comsumers' "mall overload".

December 19, 2005 - The Cincinnati Enquirer

The New Sin City Chamber of Commerce

Feeling ignored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the region's adult industry forms its own

December 18, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Recovery and Rebuilding In Louisiana

The Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding conference covered a variety of topics, including goals and design principles for rebuilding, and community & economic development.

December 18, 2005 - Smart Growth Online

Do Social-Environmental Economic Performance Indicators Work?

A new report reviews how well the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Economic Performance Indicators have been applied by 33 companies, including GE, McDonald's, Novo Nordisk, Shell, Starbucks, and Toyota.

December 17, 2005 - GreenBiz

'Absent-Urbanism' And Urbanism Awards

Susan Barnes-Gelt reviews good and bad examples of urbanism in Denver.

December 16, 2005 - The Denver Post

New Orleans' Uncertain Future

Between the diaspora of its residents, the prospect of a "Disney-fied" redevelopment plan, and the need to involve residents in planning processes, New Orleans is the site of an immense tug of war over its future.

December 15, 2005 - Yes! Magazine

Universities Look For Advice on Mixed Use

Creating a vibrant, near-campus retail neighborhood makes higher education's short list

December 13, 2005 - University Business

Should Cities Provide Free WiFi For Economic Development?

Telecommunications giant BellSouth withdraws an offer to the city to use one of its buildings to house the city's police department after New Orleans officials announce a plan to provide free citywide Wi-Fi to stimulate economic development.

December 13, 2005 - The Washington Post

Rio Rancho: Watching A Suburban Transformation

Rio Rancho, a suburb of Albuquerque, is changing sleepy suburb into an urban center that could one day rival Albuquerque in size. This in-depth, multi-part series focuses on the town's potential and growing pains.

December 13, 2005 - The Albuquerque Tribune

Recycling The Student Ghetto

As students leave rundown houses for newly-built, amenity-filled complexes, near-campus housing stock in walkable neighborhoods opens up for faculty/staff restoration.

December 12, 2005 - Wisconsin State Journal

Wealthy Maine Island Enclave Looks to Limit Growth

Isleboro Maine, an island that is home to wealthy summer vacationers such as John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, faces several challenges as development pressure increases.

December 12, 2005 - Maine Sunday Telegram

Anxiety and Stress Permeate New Orleans

Despite a few publicized accomplishments, New Orleans is decidedly not ok. Nearly 100 days after Hurricane Katrina, the city is stuck is disrepair waiting for the government to make a commitment to protect the city from future hurricanes.

December 12, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Gentrification Lite

The rich and poor live side by side as city planners and elected officials redevelop Raleigh's toughest 'hoods.

December 12, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

Flint's Death Rattle

With the recent bankruptcy of Delphi Corp, a spinoff of General Motors, the once proud middle-class City of Flint, Michigan faces an even bleaker future.

December 12, 2005 - The Detroit News

The World After Globalism

An interview with John Ralston Saul, the author of "The Collapse of Globalism."

December 11, 2005 - Mother Jones

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.