Community / Economic Development

A Reading List on Exclusion and Racism in the Legal History in the United States
The legal history of the United States is full of laws designed to exclude and segregate the racialized other. This reading list recommends scholarship that sheds light on that history.

Mayoral Op-Ed Touts New Equitable Development Model in Minneapolis
A plan for 48 acres of riverfront land could make Minneapolis a leader in doing redevelopment right, argue city leaders.

The Future of U.S. High-Speed Rail Is in Texas
Carlos Aguilar, Texas Central president and CEO, comments on the changes to the San Francisco-to-Anaheim project announced last month by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and why his project linking Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth will progress.

The 'Decolonial Planning' Project
A potentially radical point of view that must be considered by planners: moving the field forward will require soul searching that confronts an overcomes the disposition and exploitation that defined the past and continues to influence the future.

Tracking a Postmates Delivery Worker's Path, and Resulting Compensation
Many delivery services have come under scrutiny for questionable labor practices. Grub Street follows a Postmates delivery worker through one night to understand the nature of the work and assess the earnings.
Grant Recipients to Study Michigan's Eviction Rate
Two urban and regional planning faculty at the University of Michigan's Taubman College, Assistant Professor Robert Goodspeed and Professor Emerita Margaret Dewar, were awarded a grant to study data on evictions in Michigan.

Revitalization Should Not Overshadow the Continued Decline in Cities
When gentrification takes center stage, neglected places facing poverty, segregation, and disinvestment are overlooked.

48-Acre Mega-Development Taking Shape on Minneapolis Waterfront
The Minneapolis City Council will consider initial mixed-use development plans for critical riverfront industrial site surrounded by a struggling residential neighborhood.

HUD Program to Connect Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in Opportunity Zones
A new program announced by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is designed to encourage Opportunity Zone investments that address poverty and underinvestment.

Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects
A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.

The 'Failure' of Gentrification?
Urban scholar Joel Kotkin says that gentrification has "failed" in Los Angeles. It's a curious notion, since gentrification is generally considered a bad thing. The reality is much more complex than Kotkin suggests.

The Artist of the Planning Department
The Boston area's Metropolitan Area Planning Council has an Artist-in-Residence Program that brings arts to the table as an integral component of the planning process.

The Robert Moses Nexus to Amazon's Cancellation of Queens HQ2
Last week, Amazon abruptly canceled its decision to invest about $2.5 billion and bring 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens. A scholar blames their abrupt decision on an arcane state bureaucracy tasked with preventing Robert Moses-like takings.

Connecticut Transportation Funding Debate: Toll Trucks or Toll All Vehicles?
New Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has reversed the position of his campaign, when he pledged to toll only heavy trucks to tackle traffic congestion. In an op-ed, Lamont explains why all vehicles must be tolled. He also rules out a gas tax hike.

Steady Loss of San Francisco Bay Area Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing rental costs are hitting low-income residents even harder as available subsidized housing continues to disappear.

What President Trump's Border Wall Can't Stop
William H. Frey, a demographer with Brookings, argues that racial diversity is a good thing for the country by many measures. Trump's wall would make it harder to benefit from demographic changes, but changes is still coming.

Post-Mortem: Why Amazon Canceled the Queens HQ2
New York City and State offered up nearly $3 billion in incentives to lure Amazon and its 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens only to see the tech company cancel their plans after local opposition materialized. Was their retreat too hasty?

More Fallout From Downsizing California High-Speed Rail
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial warns that San Francisco must find funds, intended to come from the state's ambitious rail project, to extend the Caltrain commuter rail line to the SalesForce Transit Center.

Deep Economic and Racial Injustice Found in California Pollution Exposure
A new study confirms the facts of environment justice that has long been common knowledge in affected communities. Now the evidence can be mapped, as well.

More Bad Polling News for Cordon Area Congestion Pricing in the U.S.
Only a handful of cities in North America are considering applying tolls to congested urban streets, as opposed to highways. Efforts in one of those cities, San Francisco, just received negative polling results on a potential $3 auto access fee.
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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