The Mountain View neighborhood in Anchorage is described as the most diverse neighborhood in the U.S., becoming a model of neighborhood change and a community of choice thanks to the efforts of local leaders and many dedicated community residents.
Daniel George, president of the Mountain View Community Council in Anchorage, Alaska, emphasizes the importance of consulting with local residents, "A lot of people who live here have never been asked what they would like to see here. Mountain View is largely a rental community. Many of the properties are rental properties where the owners don’t live on it. You see a lot of multi-unit apartments … oftentimes people don’t go to renters and say, ‘hey, what would you like to see on the property?’ But the community council gets to be that voice."
George moved into the Mountain View neighborhood in 2009 and he bought a house there. George says, "I fell in love with this neighborhood, and decided to move here."
"As someone that invests here and lives here, some people don’t have a high opinion of Mountain View," explained George, "and it’s certainly had its share of social ills and crime. But things are changing. ... Anyone that’s driven through Mountain View can see that it’s changed a great deal. People are looking to buy homes here now. First time homebuyers are coming in. We’re working to make it a community of choice, the first choice."
FULL STORY: A Community of Choice
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
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.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
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.