Community / Economic Development

Detroit Bioretention Garden

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.

September 23, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Airport

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.

September 21, 2018 - The New York Times

Adaptive Reuse

New Book Studies 20 Examples of Adaptive Reuse

A new book on adaptive reuse of industrial buildings is reviewed by Carol Berens.

September 21, 2018 - UrbDeZine

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.

September 21, 2018 - Voice of San Diego

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

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.

September 20, 2018 - The New Localism

San Antonio

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.

September 19, 2018 - San Antonio Express News

New York Vacant Storefront

Vacant Commercial Spaces Spreading in New York

Between 2016 and 2017 vacant store fronts nearly tripled in New York.

September 17, 2018 - The New York Times

Atlanta public library

‘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.

September 17, 2018 - CityLab

Boston houses

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.

September 17, 2018 - Next City

ARIZONA RESERVOIR

Design Competition Tasked With Finding New Development Life for Dry Phoenix Riverbed

The passing of Senator John McCain has reinvigorated the Rio Reimagined project.

September 16, 2018 - Arizona Republic

Bloomingdale Trail

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.

September 16, 2018 - CityLab

Blue Origin

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.

September 13, 2018 - GeekWire

Mississippi River, Downtown Minneapolis

Downtown Revitalization Stretches East in Minneapolis

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

September 12, 2018 - Star Tribune

Bethesda, Maryland

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.

September 12, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Apartment Building

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.

September 11, 2018 - MinnPost

New York City

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.

September 10, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Transit Oriented Development

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.

September 7, 2018 - Move LA

Public Art

'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.

September 7, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Scaffolding

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.

September 6, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Homeless and Police

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.

September 6, 2018 - AP via Idaho Statesman

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.