Community / Economic Development

Homelessness

Veteran Homelessness on the Rise Again in Expensive Cities

The news about veteran homelessness rising in expensive cities might come as a surprise, after years of reported progress.

November 12, 2018 - How Housing Matters

Vacant Properties

Land Bank Trends in 2018

An economic development professional shares three key takeaways from a recent conference focused on land baking practices.

November 12, 2018 - The Port

Chicago Parklet Andersonville

Chicago Parklet Designed to Be Flexible and Cost Effective

A newly installed parklet in Chicago is part of a larger program to engage the city’s public spaces.

November 12, 2018 - Next City

Center City

Philadelphia Project Seeks Diverse Array of Investors

A development project in Philadelphia is raising funds through a combination of Opportunity Zones benefits, federal tax credits, and crowdfunding.

November 10, 2018 - Next City

Seattle, Washington

When Amazon Happens to Good Cities

After the news broke that Amazon was reportedly going to split its HQ2 plans between New York City and Washington, D.C., some cities are left console themselves. A Planetizen opinion piece picks up the pieces.

November 8, 2018 - James Brasuell

Homelessness

San Francisco's Voter-Approved Tax to Aid the Homeless Could Face Litigation

In California, 60 percent of a public vote isn't usually enough to approve a new tax.

November 8, 2018 - Associated Press

Los Angeles

CDBG Funds Not Useful Focus for Zoning Reform

Linking zoning reform mandates to CDBG funding is not an effective way to change exclusionary zoning.

November 8, 2018 - Brookings

New York

Google Planning Massive Expansion in New York City

Google's plan to add 12,000 new workers in the city of New York is the second tech company bonanza for the city this week.

November 8, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Rural California Road

Rural Communities Connected Through Grassroots Mobility Services

California residents throughout the Central Valley struggle with inadequate transportation. Shuttle and ride-share programs are filling in the gaps.

November 8, 2018 - The Fresno Bee

Vote

Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Toronto Streetcar

Survey Finds High Levels of 'Social Capital' in Toronto

The first comprehensive look at social capital in a Canadian city reveals lessons for planners and more about what connects citizens to their communities.

November 7, 2018 - The Star

Subway Library

The Mysteries Of 'Social Infrastructure'

In his new book Palaces for the People, sociologist Eric Klinenberg explores the places—from libraries and schools to cafes and churches—where cities' social lives take place. It's a compelling idea but one that Klinenberg discusses clumsily.

November 6, 2018 - California Planning & Development Report

Seattle, Washington

Updated: Two Cities Emerge as Front Runners for Amazon's HQ2

According to leaked information, Northern Virginia, Dallas, and New York City were in the lead in the competition to land the location of the second Amazon headquarters. Now sources report the company will split the HQ2 footprint between two cities.

November 5, 2018 - New York Times

Solar Panel on a Wind Turbine

Energy Issues at Stake in New Mexico Land Commission Election

Unlike energy issues that will appear in the form of ballot initiatives on Tuesday in three western states, voters in New Mexico will cast their energy vote in their choice for state land commissioner, an arcane position with considerable authority.

November 4, 2018 - NPR

High Rise Construction

Seattle's Hotel Boom Could Go Bust

Seattle has added 2,550 hotel rooms since the beginning of 2017, with another 3,000 on the way by 2021.

November 3, 2018 - The Seattle Times

Wisconsin

Revisiting Wisconsin's Foxconn Deal, Now Called a 'Boondoggle'

Wisconsin taxpayer will be paying the bill for the deal to bring Foxconn to Racine "for decades, if not generations, to come."

November 3, 2018 - The Verge

Boston innovation district banner with lofts

Tech's Expanding Footprint

A new report from CBRE identifies the extent of the tech industry's expanding footprint in the United States, and where it might be headed next.

November 2, 2018 - CBRE

Pittsburgh

Judge: Pittsburgh Can't Hide Amazon HQ2 Offer From the Public

City and county officials have already appealed a decision that would require them to release the details of a proposal designed to entice Amazon into locating its second headquarters in Pittsburgh.

November 2, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hurricane Katrina

Measuring the Effect of Blight Remediation Programs

Tulane researchers received major funding support from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of blight remediation on youth and family violence.

November 2, 2018 - Tulane University

West Virginia Oil

West Virginia Teams Up With 'Fallout' Video Game Producers for Tourism Promotion

West Virginia's tourism office and the video game company Bethesda will collaborate to promote both the state and a game set in an imagined future where the state is decimated by nuclear fallout.

November 1, 2018 - Route Fifty

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.