Community / Economic Development

Street Vendor

In Support of Street Vendors

From garbage pickers to tamale sellers, workers in the informal economy can account for half the workforce in developing cities. They should be respected as an important constituency.

June 5, 2018 - City Lab

Downtown Los Angeles

Bad News for L.A.'s Homelessness Strategy: Public Restroom Plan Falls Apart

The city's failure to deliver public restrooms is not the first sign of trouble for its sweeping homelessness plan, but it’s a painful one for the residents of Skid Row.

June 5, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Atlanta, Gergia

Gentrifying Neighborhood Qualifies as a Federal 'Opportunity Zone'

The state of Georgia's Opportunity Zones designations included one choice that raised questions about the purpose of the new federal program.

June 5, 2018 - WABE

Empty Main Street

Are Vacancy Taxes a 'Blunt Instrument'?

A number of cities are considering hiking up taxes on vacant properties. But does that actually lead to a reduction in blight?

June 1, 2018 - Governing

Center City

Philadelphia's Eviction Task Force Releases Action Plan

The housing crisis is the eviction crisis. Philadelphia is taking action.

May 30, 2018 - Next City

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Oregon's 86 Opportunity Zones Include 'High Rent' Districts in Portland

Oregon is the latest state to join the nascent federal program, which is designed to stimulate investment in distressed areas.

May 29, 2018 - KGW

Homeless Encampment

Analysis: Homeless Villages Don't Spur Crime

Homeless villages aren't hotbeds of crime, according to recent analysis. Rather, they can be part of a "crime prevention ecosystem."

May 29, 2018 - The Guardian

Denver Cap Park

Freeway Cap Book Manuscript Online for Review and Comment

The first comprehensive manual for planning, funding, and building a freeway cap is put online for review and comment.

May 27, 2018 - UrbDeZine

New York Vacant Storefront

Small Business, Co-Op Apartments Mixed Up in New York Bill

The debate about the Small Business Jobs Survival Act continues in New York City.

May 26, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Gilpin County, Colorado

Survey Examines the Differences and Commonalities Between Urban and Rural Communities

A big new study by the Pew Research Center examines the ties that bind, and the differences that threaten to tear us apart.

May 23, 2018 - Pew Research Center

Englewood Southside Neighborhood

Chicago Puts Thousands of Vacant Lots on the Market for $1

Chicago continues to lose population from parts of the city, so vacant properties are multiplying. The city's "Large Lots" program aims to return vacant properties back to control by residents of the neighborhoods.

May 22, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Los Angeles Medical Center

Kaiser Permanente to Fund Housing Efforts in Eight States

The healthcare provider's decision to spend $200 million on housing programs reflects the growing awareness of the intersectionality of housing and health.

May 22, 2018 - CityLab

Salesforce Tower and 181 Fremont

California Getting Way More New Jobs Than New Housing

Even with tons of building permits already issued this year, the outlook for the state’s affordability crisis is pretty grim.

May 21, 2018 - The Mercury News

Port of Oakland

Federal Judge Strikes Down Oakland's Ban on Coal Exports

Shipping coal from Utah to export to Asia through a new cargo facility in Oakland, California took a significant step forward on May 15 with a strongly worded ruling condemning the adequacy of the city of Oakland's environmental analysis.

May 18, 2018 - KQED: California Report

Seattle Homeless

The Cost of Solving Homelessness in Seattle: $400 Million

It’s "dramatically higher" than any number under discussion, and not even close to what the city will raise with its new tax on large businesses.

May 17, 2018 - Crosscut

Green Healthy Community

A New 'City Health Dashboard' for 500 U.S. Cities

The new City Health Dashboard might be the first time many communities have had access to a treasure trove of public health data at the click of a mouse button.

May 17, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Cupertino, California

Apple Could Make Northern Virginia a Tech Industry Powerhouse

Apple is pondering a major move into Northern Virginia. For comparison, state officials have pitched sites covering about half the desired size of Amazon's second headquarters and two-thirds the size of the Pentagon.

May 16, 2018 - The Washington Post

Bourbon Street Music

Do Amenities Matter?

Marla Nelson of The University of New Orleans and and Renia Ehrenfeucht of the University of New Mexico, guest blog about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

May 16, 2018 - JPER

Chicago Community Garden

Chicago Zoning Standing in the Way of Some Urban Gardens

It can be easier for Chicago's urban gardeners to grow produce than to sell it.

May 16, 2018 - Southside Weekly

recycled greywater

The Real Cost of Clean Water in One Kansas Town

Pretty Prairie has water with very high levels of nitrates, and lots of farmers that need to use nitrates if they want to keep the local economy going.

May 14, 2018 - Harper's

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.