Post-Industrial Cities

Q Arena

How Legacy Cities Can Support Equitable Development

A new report outlines seven strategies for balancing economic development and equity specifically aimed at smaller, post-industrial cities.

June 8, 2021 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Youngstown, Ohio

The Fragility of Growth in a Post-Industrial City

A chapter by Jeremy Nowak, who passed away this summer, adapted from the book "Shared Prosperity in America’s Communities."

October 25, 2018 - Penn IUR Urban Link

High Line park NYC - Manhattan - New York City

Pittsburgh's Version of the High Line Takes Off

Pittsburgh is betting on its own version of New York City's famed elevated park, based on a 500-foot-long raised roadway connecting two warehouses.

May 4, 2018 - The Architect's Newspaper

Downtown Flint Michigan along Saginaw Street

Strategies for Revitalizing Smaller Post-Industrial Cities

For every Pittsburgh or Cleveland success story, there's a story waiting to be told in smaller cities like Gary and Lowell.

September 8, 2017 - At Lincoln House

Pittsburgh Skyline

Pittsburgh Moves Forward on Resilience

Building on support from the Rockefeller Foundation, Pittsburgh has released a framework for its future resilience efforts. Concrete details are still to come.

March 28, 2017 - Next City

Pullman Yards Atlanta

Disused Atlanta Industrial Site Slated for Historic Status

Currently owned by the state of Georgia, Atlanta's Pullman Yard may get a lot harder (but not impossible) to redevelop. Atlanta's Urban Design Commission is considering a proposal to grant protected status to the property.

December 1, 2016 - Saporta Report

Pittsburgh at Night

Rust Belt Revival: Pittsburgh's New Economy

When Uber announced this month that it would test-run its fleet of self-driving cars in the Steel City, many probably asked, "why Pittsburgh?" Unlike other post-industrial places, it's been incubating a 21st-century economy.

August 26, 2016 - Salon

Toronto

Toronto Is the Future

As part of "Guardian Canada" week, an author writes a paean to benefits of a growing, forward looking, diverse city.

July 11, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Seattle SUper Bowl Parade 12th Man Flag

Seattle as the 'Next Detroit'

As the automotive industry of Detroit once inherited the wealth and assets of Pittsburgh's steel industry, one writer argues Seattle has now inherited the wealth and assets of the Silicon Valley.

December 15, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Goose Island Chicago

Chicago's Golden Goose

Once known as "Little Hell" for its copious industrial plants, Goose Island is a rare, relatively undeveloped investment opportunity. Centrally located, it may one day house swanky offices.

June 29, 2015 - Crain's Chicago Business

Small Town Art

Artists Breathe New Life Into Pennsylvania Town

Long suffering Rust Belt woes and lacking the name recognition of a Pittsburgh or Detroit, York opened its doors to another overlooked group: artists. The results so far are impressive.

April 29, 2015 - Belt Magazine

Pittsburgh Skyline

5 Mid-Sized Cities Rethinking the Urban Waterfront

Nick Addamo discusses and outlines the plans of five small and mid-sized cities that are re-evaluating their waterfront and developing them to be more people-focused.

September 19, 2014 - Architizer

England's Rust Belt Cities Struggle to Find Their Post-Industrial Footing

While London struggles with "supergentrification" and rising home prices, England's rust belt cities suffer from long-term decline and the withdraw of public spending. How can these places find their post-industrial footing?

October 14, 2013 - The Economist

Can a Dollar and a Dream Bring Back Gary, Indiana?

Just south of Chicago, the city of Gary is suffering from post-industrial blight, decaying infrastructure, and declining finances - an all too common trajectory in the Rust Belt. A program selling vacant homes for $1 hopes to stabilize neighborhoods.

August 15, 2013 - The New York Times

Showing Industrial Cities Some Love

Bridgeport, Connecticut was known for post-industrial decay and crime. Today, people are talking about its "tantalizing" downtown that is ripe for redevelopment, writes Carrie Jacobs.

August 17, 2011 - Metropolis Magazine

Seattle's Growth Through Human Capital

Despite what seemed to be a drained post-industrial condition in the 1970s, Seattle has been growing. This post looks into why.

March 9, 2011 - The New York Times

'Ugly' Tourism in Belgium

An entrepreneur in a declining industrial city takes visitors on an 'Urban Safari.'

December 17, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

A Symbol of Revitalization For a Post-Industrial City

A new center on the campus of Syracuse University is meant to highlight the Rust Belt city's potential -- and to inspire its revitalization.

November 19, 2010 - Metropolis

An Example of Post-Industrial Rebirth

Germany's Ruhr region, a former coal and steel powerhouse that fell into decline, has shown major improvements in recent years, offering hope for other post-industrial cities.

October 12, 2010 - Citiwire

Haiti Needs Old Urbanism, Not New

Plans for rebuilding Haiti have a strikingly New Urbanist tinge. But some say Haiti's economic situation isn't ready for a New Urbanist approach.

April 8, 2010 - Fast Company

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.