Community / Economic Development
25 Months of Growth for Architecture Firms Ended in March
A key signal of economic strength for the planning and development industries delivered bad news for the first time in a long time.
Bike Prices to Soar in U.S. Thanks to Trump's Trade War with China
Depending on the type of bicycle for sale, the price may jump 25 percent due to new tariffs paid by importers and consumers (not China as the president would have you think) if it arrives in the United States after June 1.
Planning for Future Cities Today With Urban Nexus Science
The Urban Nexus is an approach to sustainability that seeks to integrate sectors and silos int he design and development process.
Trade Group Established to Lobby for Opportunity Zone Policy
There is now an organization calling itself a "Chamber of Commerce" for opportunity zones.
New Airport Proposed for Chicago Suburbs Has Supporters and Doubters
Questions raised by a proposal to build a new airport 37 miles south of Downtown Chicago: Does the region even need a new airport? And would this particular airport proposal serve to induce more sprawl in the region?
Neighborhood-Based Apps and the Socialized Fear of Crime
Violent crime is at the lowest rate in decades, but don't tell that to the people who use neighborhood-based apps like Nextdoor, Citizen, and Neighbors.
Gentrification Studies Must Inspire Solutions
The study of gentrification took center stage at the recent conference of the Urban Affairs Association. It's up to planners to put all of that research to good use.
Community Planning Gives Voices to the Voiceless
People who can't vote can still have a say in the processes by which their neighborhoods are planned and developed. An example from New York City illustrates the point.
Trump Administration Proposes Changes to the 'Official Poverty Measure'
The Office of Management and Budget wants to save money by shrinking the definition of poverty used to calculate access to welfare programs.
Small Towns Prioritize Main Street for Economic and Population Growth
Downtown revitalization can be a small town planning priority too.
The Practical Confessions of an Urbanist Pilgrim
After 12 days of walking the Portuguese Camino, the importance of many urban planning and development debates—from balanced growth to banning cars—became abundantly clear.
Bolstering Urban Resilience in Chicago
The city’s resilience plan seeks to identify shocks and stresses while fostering equity and community.
Toward a More Useful, and Accurate, Definition of Gentrification
Recent studies have called into question the predominant narratives on gentrification. A more precise definition of the term as it works in the United States is required.
Dam Removal Movement Gains Ground in Wisconsin
More cities are reclaiming a natural, free flowing river as a resource for quality of life and economic development.
Injecting Racial Equity into an Election Cycle in St. Louis
Ten St. Louis organizations worked together to pin down mayoral candidates on concrete questions about racial equity—but first they had come to consensus on what issues to focus on.
Unequal Distribution of Shade Is Environmental Injustice
A longread, written by Sam Boch and published by Places Journal, has been creating a stir online and is highly recommended for those with an interest in intersections between social justice and urban design.
Helping At-Risk Homeowners Stay Put With a Land Trust
For homeowners at risk of losing their home due to a medical crisis, divorce, or unexpected repair costs, City of Lakes Community Land Trust has been able to keep them in place by bringing their home into the land trust.
How Smaller Cities Are Trying to Attract Opportunity Zone Investors
Cities and states are altering local policies to maximize benefits for private investors in Opportunity Zones.
Who Most Needs Access to Core Neighborhoods?
We have a limited number of dense core neighborhoods in which getting around without a car is possible; such neighborhoods may appeal to many people, but having access to them affects people differently depending on work type and income level.
Opportunity Zone Investors Look to Fuel Tech in Chicago
One venture plans to fund a 100-acre campus for tech, bioscience, and medical research in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
