Long a symbol of urban decay, downtown Detroit is attracting residents and investment, though obstacles remain.
Though the hometown team lost the recent World Series, the event highlighted the progress that downtown Detroit has made attracting new businesses, residents and stores. More and more urban experts are starting to agree with the city's Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, about the arrival of a downtown renaissance, though most point out several major obstacles that remain in the way of a vibrant downtown.
"[Yet these] positive trends mean even the most optimistic visions for downtown Detroit no longer sound so far-fetched. Talking about downtown's future during the World Series, Kilpatrick vowed to make even the derelict Capitol Park district west of Woodward into a Greenwich Village-style enclave of lofts and shopping."
"A study released last week at the annual University of Michigan-Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum in Detroit found that the new downtown residents are younger, better educated and wealthier than expected, with average household incomes of close to $60,000 a year."
FULL STORY: Detroit's future is looking brighter
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
