Community / Economic Development

Successful Metropolitan Areas Prioritize Proximity
Brookings buils on the findings of recent research about jobs densification in cities around the country to make a larger point about the benefits of proximity in urban design, as compared to sprawl.

Google Expanding in Austin
Google is positioning itself to take advantage of the local talent residing in and around Austin.

New Plan to Address Homeless Needed in Denver
After Denver voters rejected the "Right to Survive" initiative in May, the city is looking for new ways to "do better" for its homeless population.

It's Official: Obama's Clean Power Plan Has Been Replaced by the Trump Administration
It took less than a year for the EPA to finalize the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which will allow older coal-burning plants to continue operating, in the Trump administration's most consequential environmental rollback accomplished to date.

A $5.5 Billion Waterfront Plan for Baltimore Wins Opportunity Zone Status
The Port Covington plan was already in line to receive massive subsidies from the city of Baltimore. Now the plan will be the beneficiary of the new federal Opportunity Zone program as well.

Measuring Job Densification Trends in U.S. Metropolitan Areas
A new report details the trend of jobs densification in U.S. metropolitan areas between 2004 and 2015, finding a few large metropolitan areas leading an overall increase in jobs density. Still, many areas are seeing jobs disperse around the region.

In Mobile, an Institutional Revamp to Tackle Blight
Mobile, Alabama, has changed the way it deals with blight, and the results have been substantial.

Summertime Ethanol Restriction Lifted to Help Corn Farmers—But at What Cost?
President Trump made good on his promise last October to lift the E15 ban in time for the summer driving season. Not mentioned by the Des Moines Register are the downsides to allowing the higher ethanol blend to be sold during the summer, e.g., smog.

Many Contender Sites for Chicago Casino
The decision about where to locate a new casino project depends on competing goals—to maximize revenues or bring jobs and development to neighborhoods that need them.

Amazon Donates $3 Million for Housing in Northern Virginia
The online retail giant also donated funding for educational programs at a nearby university and a nearby community college.

Reviving an Old Regional Rail Route to Spur Tourism in Western Massachusetts
The Berkshire Mountains have long been a popular destination for sightseers, tourists, and weekend warriors. A pilot Amtrak route is designed to attract new waves of New Yorkers to the region.

Doubt Cast on Induced Demand for Housing
Applied to roads, the theory of induced demand says new construction only brings out more users. But can something similar be said of housing? According to this research, the likely answer is no.

Which Cities Have the Most Breweries Per Capita
A new study reveals with cities have the most beer to go around.

Happy Hour: A Beer for Every Neighborhood
One Pittsburgh brewery is brewing a beer for every one of the city's 92 neighborhoods.

Art Walks and Gentrification, a Minneapolis Case Study
Art walks, or open studio tours, often take place in once-gritty neighborhoods trending toward the hip and expensive, but how responsible are the events for the effects of gentrification that emerge?

APA Releases its First Guide to Equity
The American Planning Association (APA) makes a clear statement that planners are especially suited to address matters of social equity.

The 'Economic Value Atlas': A New Tool for Assessing Economic Development
In an effort to generate a new approach to economic development and infrastructure investment, the Brookings Institution has developed a new "Economic Value Atlas."

Dakota Access Pipeline Owners Win Eminent Domain Appeal in Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that found that the Iowa Utilities Board was justified in giving the private owners of the Dakota Access Pipeline the use of eminent domain. Climate change was considered in the ruling.

Atlanta Pop-Up Studio Brings Urban Designers into the Community
The Atlanta City Studio lets community members talk to the city’s urban designers about the projects most important to them.

Answers to Key Questions about U.S. Immigration
The Pew Research Center this week released its most recent "Facts on U.S. Immigrants" report.
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Planning for Universal Design
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