Revitalization

irishtown bend

Coming Soon: A Transformative Idea for Cleveland's Irishtown Bend

A new design process will take an initial step toward unleashing the unrealized potential of Irishtown Bend—located along the Cuyahoga River in the heart of Cleveland.

February 13, 2017 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

West Louisville

HUD Announces $132 Million in New Choice Neighborhood Grants

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced another round of Choice Neighborhood grants in December, awarding five communities a total of $132 million in grant funding.

January 13, 2017 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Carquinez Bridge

The Well Has Run Dry: Redevelopment in Vallejo, CA Without Tax Increment Financing

A case study of Vallejo shows how the city is continuing revitalization efforts without the powerful tools provided by its former redevelopment agency.

June 24, 2016 - Linda Day

Gentrification

New Program Aims for Revitalization Without Displacement

A new program by Smart Growth America is working within specific communities to find ways to deliver the benefits of revitalization with fewer of the drawbacks.

June 23, 2016 - Smart Growth America

Des Moines

Reinventing Des Moines

Fairly or unfairly, Des Moines has a solid reputation as one of the nation's least interesting cities. But unbeknownst to the rest of us, this quiet working town might become the Midwest's answer to Austin, Texas.

February 10, 2016 - Politico

Havana

Everyone Wants a Piece of Havana—Can Cuba Keep Up?

Cuba and its capital city of Havana are experiencing several, simultaneous revolutions. The opportunity for residents is also an opportunity for developers and architects, as well as a challenge for planners.

February 2, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Akron-Cleveland Covered Bridge

The Plan to Bring 50,000 People Back to Akron, Ohio

Down to a population of 197,859 from its 1960 peak of 290,351, the city of Akron is looking for a way to bring people back to its community. One thing Akron has going for it already: an enthusiastic champion of the cause.

January 27, 2016 - Akron Beacon Journal

Downtown Reno

Downtown Reno: A Place Where Nobody Dared to Go

Residents of Reno, Nevada participating in a rewrite of the city’s master plan have spoken out about the myriad of problems afflicting their downtown—it's dirty, dangerous, and deserted.

January 18, 2016 - Reno Gazette-Journal

Philadelphia Alleyway

Philadelphia Alleys Ranked for Makeover

In advance of what may be a wider program, Philadelphia's alleys have been ranked for their aesthetic quality. Those in the "average" range are most suitable for retrofits.

November 17, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

European Cafe

Friday Funny: City Wants to Skip the Hard Parts of Revitalization

The Onion provides a fake dispatch from a city that wants lobster roll stands and high-end noodle bars on every corner, like now.

May 15, 2015 - The Onion

Philly Burgh Balances Tradition with Revitalization

People seeking small town, authentic character are moving to the burghs along the Schuylkill River. Now the towns are faced with the challenge of blending the old with the new.

December 10, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Op-Ed: Reintroduce California's Historic Restoration Tax Credit

Despite a veto by Governor Jerry Brown, California’s Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins should keep trying to pass legislation to encourage preservation, says Bay area preservation architect Jerri Holan.

October 24, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Mixed-use waterfront

6 Ways Urban Renewal Misses the Livability Mark

Despite spending millions on urban renewal projects, municipalities often miss a common group of opportunities to make their communities more livable and walkable, according to William Adams, a San Diego-based land use attorney.

September 12, 2014 - UrbDeZine

The Risks and Conflicts of Interest in San Diego's Proposed Redevelopment Scheme

Before San Diego adopts a proposal to continue redevelopment using profit-based concepts, it should pause to consider the perils, argues Murtaza H. Baxamusa, an affordable housing developer and planning professor.

August 3, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Projects to Watch in Nashville's Transformation

The Architect's Newspaper featured a suite of "new urbanism" projects underway in Nashville—everything from BRT, to convention centers, to bikeshare.

July 19, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Empty Parking Lot

Rethinking the Value of Parking Lots

To create more active and economically healthy downtowns, cities are seeking development on parking lots.

April 12, 2014 - Newsweek

Does Downtown San Diego Measure Up as a 'Vibrant Downtown'?

Piggybacking on John Karras's article, "12 Strategies That Will Transform Your City’s Downtown" (posted in Planetizen as "12 Strategies for Revitalizing Downtowns" on 2/26/1014), Bill Adams takes a look at how downtown San Diego measures up.

March 9, 2014 - UrbDeZine.com

How to Predict the Next Hot Hood

The growing interest in city living is transforming urban neighborhoods throughout the United States. But how can one get in on the rising tide before becoming priced out? Charlie Wells provides some clues.

December 19, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Could "Impact Bonds" Target Places Rather Than People?

Localities are experimenting with social impact bonds (SIBs) to fund America's social service infrastructure. John Roman asks if such an instrument could be used to help transform blighted areas.

November 16, 2013 - Huff Post Business

What's Wrong With Worcester? A Story of Stalled Revitalization

The $565 million CitySquare project was supposed to spark the revitalization of Worcester's downtown. But 10 years later, the 21 acre site is home to vacant sites and outdated buildings. What went wrong?

October 18, 2013 - The Boston Globe

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.

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.