Community / Economic Development

The Key to Effective Neighborhood Development: Scale
Lots of great ideas, but few resources to back them up—the story in Detroit is probably familiar in cities all over the country.

Friday Eye Candy: Mapping Distance and Social Connectedness
The New York Times published an interactive map that shows how important distance is in determining connections on social media.

New Book Studies 20 Examples of Adaptive Reuse
A new book on adaptive reuse of industrial buildings is reviewed by Carol Berens.
Homeless Tents Missing the Permanent Housing Mark in San Diego
The occupants of homeless tents in San Diego haven't been moving to permanent housing in the numbers city officials had hoped.

Making the Most of 'Opportunity Zones'
Created to speed investment in struggling communities, the federal Opportunity Zones program could also spur research into how capital can be better deployed on a district-by-district basis.

Big University Expansion Planned in Downtown San Antonio
Aided by state, local, and private support, the University of Texas at San Antonio is planning a major expansion of its footprint in downtown San Antonio.

Vacant Commercial Spaces Spreading in New York
Between 2016 and 2017 vacant store fronts nearly tripled in New York.

‘Social Infrastructure’ and the Interactions That Bond Us
Richard Florida talks with sociologist Eric Klinenberg about his new book and the places and organizations that help hold society together.

In Boston, Protecting Communities from the Consequences of Foreclosure
A diverse Boston community alliance initially came together to maintain stability in neighborhoods affected by foreclosures. It has changed focus as its work has continued.

Design Competition Tasked With Finding New Development Life for Dry Phoenix Riverbed
The passing of Senator John McCain has reinvigorated the Rio Reimagined project.

Everything About Tax Increment Financing
A controversial form of value capture, tax increment financing begs for further analysis and understanding. A new report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy sheds light on the subject.

Jeff Bezos Announces $2 Billion Fund to Support Homeless Services
After the company he founded fought off a tax to fund homeless and affordable housing funds in Seattle earlier this year, Jeff Bezos has announced a new $2 billion fund that will fund homeless services, among other efforts.

Downtown Revitalization Stretches East in Minneapolis
East Town, also known as Downtown East, used to be "weed strewn lots and abandoned rail yards."

Where There Aren't Enough Schools for New Homes
Parts of Montgomery County, Maryland have declared a moratorium on new homes because schools are overcrowded.

Minneapolis Mayor Pushing to Fund a Slew of Programs to Make Housing More Affordable
Mayor Jacob Frey wants $40 million of the city’s budget to fund programs related to housing affordability.

A New York City Planner’s Long and Influential History
A look back at Purnima Kapur’s career highlights the long-term impacts of her planning work.

Transit-Area Tax Increment Financing Bill on Gov. Jerry Brown's Desk
Transit, affordable housing, TODs, active transportation and local governments should all come out ahead should Brown sign SB 961. The bill follows in the path of earlier legislation that created enhanced infrastructure finance districts.

'Vida' Examines Gentrification in East L.A. But Now Faces Backlash from Real-Life Protesters
A show about the impacts of gentrification in a working-class immigrant neighborhood in Los Angeles is generating controversy among those it represents.

In the Midst of a Housing Crisis, Soaring Costs Leave San Francisco Projects at a Standstill
San Francisco desperately needs more housing, but many projects sit unfinished as developers face cost challenges.

Court: It's Cruel and Unusual Punishment to Ban Homeless From Sleeping on Streets
A 2009 law that banned sleeping in public spaces has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.
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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