A debate common in growing cities around the country is taking place in Atlanta in answer to the question of how much support private developers need from the public.
"Determining when it’s appropriate to hand over public incentives to help propel private developments in Atlanta has become a contentious issue," reports Sean Keenan.
With Downtown Atlanta's shifting economic role, and increasing affluence, in mind, ThreadATL recently hosted a panel discussion on the issue, featuring members of the city's economic development organization, Invest Atlanta, "to hash out when it’s appropriate to offer public incentives to private companies," according to Keenan.
"The panel also hashed out the need to better define the urbanism goals of the city, which are now being boiled down into the new Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and Invest Atlanta," adds Keenan. The city's Downtown Facade Improvement Grant program is another specific policy point mentioned in the debate.
Read the full story: Invest Atlanta leaders dish on when city should, shouldn’t give public incentives to developers
Atlanta Approves New Affordable Housing and Eviction Protection Funds
Several city resolutions will fund projects that help residents find housing and eviction prevention services.
Salt Lake City Bucks Downtown Decline Trend
The city’s central business district is bustling with more activity than before the pandemic.
A ‘Public Realm Action Plan’ Charts San Francisco’s Post-Covid Comeback
A nonprofit business group released a plan to trigger the post-pandemic revitalization of Downtown San Francisco by reclaiming public space for human scale activity. But is an improved public realm sufficient to meet the challenge?
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority