From USC to Columbia University, "town and gown" collaborations regarding university expansion have proven to benefit all parties, writes planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa.

The multiplier impact of universities on local economies has been shown to be virtually unparalleled. This is particularly important given how cities are often pitted against each other to attract businesses that promise a high number of jobs. As has recently been highlighted by the Amazon HQ2 competition, cities compete with each other to give away public land and tax subsidies to attract major employers. Sometimes, these "incentive packages" result in a net loss to local taxpayers. In all cases, cities are rewarded for minimizing funding of everything from education, to parks, to life & safety services. In contrast, universities are rarely as aggressive as private for-profit enterprises in seeking local subsidies, and in any case, are highly unlikely to move to another city to obtain subsidies. Additionally, universities help support a wide range of private enterprises, from low skilled services, to everyday supplies, to skilled trades, to high-tech and life-sciences start-ups.
Nevertheless, when universities seek to expand, it can be traumatic and damaging for adjacent neighborhoods and residents, particularly if community needs and goals are not given a voice in the matter. San Diego planning activist and affordable housing developer Murtaza Baxamusa writes about the topic in the context of an upcoming voter referendum concerning a sale of the Charger Stadium land to San Diego State University for expansion. Baxamusa references several recent university expansions to review the tensions and the resolutions. He opines that full collaboration and engagement, memorialized in a community benefits agreement, optimizes the expansion for both parties. He references the recent USC expansion as an example of the items that can be addressed in such agreements. For more detailed information, please see the source article.
FULL STORY: University expansions create opportunity for community benefits

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.
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