Government / Politics
Why Some Cities are Using Eminent Domain to Save Mortgages
Some cities are fighting back against the mortgage crisis, using eminent domain to seize and write down troubled mortgages, keeping homeowners in their homes and keeping local economies afloat, writes Peter S. Goodman.
Cash-Strapped City? Chinese Capital to the Rescue!
Despite heated political rhetoric on the national stage, the Toledo mayor courts Chinese investors.
Is it Too Soon to Consider Replacements for Redevelopment in California?
Although the state's legislators were ready to move on from the closure of CA's redevelopment agencies by approving several bills designed to replace aspects of redevelopment or otherwise help cities, Governor Brown vetoed each one over the weekend.
Process, Rather Than Product, Distinguishes Chicago's 'High Line'
According to Kate Dries, it's not the design that sets apart the plans for Bloomingdale Trail, Chicago's elevated railway to park conversion. The way the project has evolved sets it apart from its east coast cousin and prior efforts.
New Jersey's Transit Stations Serve as Beacon for State's Future
With the second highest share of transit usage in the U.S., a new study three years in the making assesses the development opportunities around the New Jersey's 243 transit stations.
As Other Cities Cut, D.C. Reaps a Surplus
For the second year in a row, Washington D.C. is ending its fiscal year in the black, raising hopes that prior cuts to city services can be reversed. So why are city leaders planning to bulk up the city's savings instead?
Do Benefits of Bike Helmets Outweigh Obstacles to Riding?
Elisabeth Rosenthal reflects on the deterrent to cycling, and the use of bike-sharing systems, posed by mandatory bike helmet laws. Does the rare serious injury prevented by a helmet outweigh discouraging cycling's wider health benefits?
Comprehensive Plan Needed for NYC's Urban Agriculture
With 700 urban farms and gardens in New York City, a new report calls for a comprehensive approach to managing the city's urban agriculture, and offers recommendations for maximizing coordination between city agencies and urban farmers.
Climate Change Planning Pits Cities Against State in California
As the state modernizes its infrastructure, concerns of continued coastal erosion and future sea-level rise raise questions of where to place key infrastructure.
Demand for Permits Keeps Mobile Retail Off the Runway
The rise of mobile food trucks has been heralded in many cities. Now as retail stores take to the streets, they're encountering obstacles with zoning and permitting that have befuddled their culinary brethren.
As L.A. Stadium Mega-Project Goes for Final Approval, Architects Slam Design
As L.A.'s massive downtown stadium and convention center project hurtles towards final approval, the questions regarding its design and feasibility grow to a roar.
How Far Should Communities Go To Subsidize Companies?
Tax breaks, cheap energy, and investments in infrastructure are among the subsidies often requested of local communities by companies searching for locations for their operations. Edward Alden asks what companies owe in return.
Taking Health into Account
Do you know the effect your spiffy new development will have on the neighbors' health? Aaron Wernham and the Kresge Foundation think you could use a health impact assessment.
Can a Long Shot Lawsuit End Nairobi's Forced Evictions
Forty residents of Nairobi's Mukuru slum have petitioned "some of Kenya's most powerful individuals, companies and banks, demanding rights to the land they live on and an end to forced evictions." They've already succeeded in halting some evictions.
Rail Debate: Should the Federal Government Invest in High Speed Rail?
Two transportation experts, Ken Orski, editor of Innovation Briefs and Joshua Schank, CEO of the Eno Center take opposing sides on whether it makes sense for the federal government to invest in high speed rail in this Wall Street Journal exclusive.
Arts Compose a Healthy Economy in Philadelphia
Stephan Salisbury details how the cultural sector in Philadelphia has grown to support the region's economic vitality.
Baseball, Architecture, and the City of the Future
Montreal architect Vedanta Balbahadur writes about his hometown's fall from its status as Canada's premier city through the lenses of baseball and the built environment.
'Crosswalk Vigilantes' Beset Pittsburgh
Diana Nelson Jones describes how residents of "one of the most spirited do-it-yourself neighborhoods in the city" took it upon themselves to improve pedestrian safety.
Taking Stock of California's Leadership in Integrated Regional Planning
A new report from the NRDC and Move LA documents the implementation of California's landmark SB 375, the nation’s first law to link transportation and land use planning with greenhouse gas emissions.
How Infrastructure Investment Became Political Fodder
Andrea Bernstein traces how, in four short years, partisan politics have infected discussions about investment in infrastructure.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
