A recent spate of articles has pondered the concepts and planning strategies at work in the region of the country described as the Rust Belt.

Scott Suttell begins this survey by analyzing whether the term "Rust Belt" is pejorative, outdated and unfairly describing the industrial Midwest "with an unflattering label that misleads the rest of the country about what’s happening here."
Suttell considers two opposing viewpoints on the use of the word, before deciding not to use the term in his own writing, and asking for ideas for a replacement.
An article by Alexia Fernandez Campbell goes further than considering the demise of the term "Rust Belt," instead suggesting that part of the region commonly referred to as the Rust Belt needs to embrace decline. In effect: that parts of the Rust belt "need to die off." That article presents an interview with Galen Newman, an assistant professor of landscape architecture and urban planning at Texas A&M, who, along with Justin Hollander of Tufts University, are leading researchers in the concepts of "smart decline." Contrast smart decline with the more common talking point of smart growth, and it's easy to understand why some communities aren't rushing to embrace decline.
Jason Segedy, blogger at Notes from the Underground, has written in response to that interview, admitting a visceral response to the ideas of smart decline before presenting a rational case. The article is long and in-depth, addressing a series of questions about the future of Rust Belt cities in thorough detail.
FULL STORY: Do Parts of the Rust Belt Need to Die Off?

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.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

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.
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