Community / Economic Development

Universal Orlando Resort

Plans Revealed for 'Epic Universe': the Country's First New Theme Park Since 2001

The Universal Epic Universe, proposed for Orlando, Florida, has aspirations as a transit-oriented theme park.

August 7, 2019 - The Next Miami

Chicago Suburb

A Frank Discussion About Struggling Suburbs

Many suburban areas outside thriving urban cores are struggling to deliver vital services and maintain property values as job and population growth stagnates. It's time to confront the realities of those communities, according to this article.

August 5, 2019 - Governing

Map Kid

Kids and Urbanization

The question of whether there is space for children in rapidly changing cities was under investigation in two recent studies with somewhat contradictory findings.

August 5, 2019 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

Philadelphia Homeless

Hepatitis A Outbreak in Philadelphia Leaves City Scrambling

Philadelphia isn't the first city to deal with a Hepatitis A outbreak after wavering on the question of whether to deploy public bathrooms and hygiene stations

August 2, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Boston COnstruction

2.5 New Jobs for Every New Home in Boston

The Boston region has achieved a jobs-housing imbalance only bested by the San Francisco Bay Area since the Great Recession.

August 1, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Portland Food Carts

Ode to Third Places

Urban strategist Michele Reeves writes about the of third places importance in the urban fabric.

July 28, 2019 - UrbDeZine

Chicago Train Commute

Planners Can Help Increase Opportunity and Fairness

Transportation and land use planning decisions affect economic opportunity and mobility—the chance that children become more economically successful than their parents. We can help create more equitable communities.

July 24, 2019 - Todd Litman

Coal Power

Shuttering a Large Coal Plant: A Tale of Two States

Environmentalists in California are upset that Los Angeles will build a new 840-megawatt natural gas plant to replace a 1,800-megawatt coal plant. The coal plant has been crucial to the economic development of Millard County, Utah.

July 23, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Portland Statue

Et Tu, Portland?

Opinion: The Rose City joins the nationwide attack on neighborhood-scale public involvement—and throws its pioneering model of grassroots democracy under the bus.

July 23, 2019 - Michael Mehaffy

The Village

'Community Preference' Housing Policy Under the Microscope on Either Side of the Country

A new study out of New York City reveals the worsening effects of segregation due to the city's "community preference" affordable housing policy, Seattle sets out to craft a policy of its own.

July 23, 2019 - The New York Times

MacArthur Park

'Urban Green Spaces': A Book for Planners and Laypeople

"Urban Green Spaces" is informative, even for practitioners, and a good read, according to a book review by L.A. County park planner Clement Lau.

July 22, 2019 - UrbDeZine

Tennessee

As More 'Superstar' Cities Emerge, the Gap With Other Cities Grows

Some cities, like Nashville, have been keeping pace with the economic growth of more internationally renowned cities like San Francisco and Seattle.

July 22, 2019 - Reuters

Rural Texas

U.S. Economic Growth Shows Urban-Rural Divide

The economy is improving in places like Texas, but a closer look indicates that cities are taking off while rural areas are lagging behind.

July 20, 2019 - The New York Times

Green Bike Lane

Anti-Displacement Efforts and Green Infrastructure Signal Hope in Portland

The Living Cully coalition prioritizes the well-being of long term, lower-income residents with future-building revitalization projects.

July 19, 2019 - Next City

Homeless Cars

A 'Safe' Parking Lot for the Homeless Proposed in San Francisco

If approved, a new facility in San Francisco will allow homeless people living in RVs and vans a safe place to park. Access to support services will also be available at the site.

July 17, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania

Study: Not All Gentrification Effects Are Equal

A comprehensive national study finds that for many original residents of gentrifying neighborhoods, the effects of gentrification can have positive effects.

July 17, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Co-Working Office

A Tipping Point in the Geography of the Creative Class?

The geography of talent is changing. Richard Florida takes a closer look at where the creative class is moving as a result of the housing affordability crisis in many of the largest and most famous cities in the country.

July 16, 2019 - CityLab

Homelessness

Houston Gets a Handle on Homelessness While Dallas Struggles

Formerly playing host to almost double the homeless population of Dallas, Houston has addressed the problem with some success over the past decade. Meanwhile, rising costs have fueled a growing crisis in Dallas.

July 15, 2019 - The Texas Tribune

Sprawl

Op-Ed: Lakewood's Growth Cap Is 'Climate Arson'

In a scathing response to arguments in favor of a "slow growth" ordinance in Lakewood, Colorado, Mike Eliason rebukes the idea that capping growth is a green policy.

July 15, 2019 - Medium

Rural Community

On Rural America's Selective Housing Shortage

Counter to the usual narrative of population decline, some rural areas stand in serious need of housing.

July 13, 2019 - The Christian Science Monitor

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.