Community / Economic Development

New York MTA to Spend $4 Billion for New Subway Cars
Over 1,600 new subway cars may be ordered, a minimum of 200 with open gangways, by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The first 500 will be purchased from the Japanese company, Kawasaki, to be assembled in Yonkers and Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mapping the LGBTQ-Friendliness of the World's Cities
A colorful data visualization tool maps information about which cities have the most protections for LGBTQ people in place. The tool is intended as a resource for LGBTQ travelers.

Philadelphia Could Be the First U.S. City to Open a Sanctioned Safe Injection Site
Facing the highest rate of deaths of any major city in the U.S. opioid epidemic, the city of Philadelphia is preparing to take drastic measures.

Temporary Trailers Will House Homeless in Downtown L.A.
If approved, a City Council motion would mark a shift in how Los Angeles deals with a rising number of homeless residents.

Dollar General Unveils Urban Format Store For Millennials
Now proposing to add another 900 stores in 2018, Dollar General continues to rapidly expand throughout the U.S. However, their push for a smaller more urban format is something seriously worth watching.

Barrio 31 in Buenos Aires Holds Universal Truths About Informal Urban Places
A study of a poorer neighborhood in Buenos Aires reveals that a delicate balance of design, public space, planning, and access are keys to success.

Saturday Night Live Skewers Amazon's Hunt for a Second Headquarters
The Saturday Night Light Live cast took a break from satirizing the Trump Administration to poke fun at Amazon.

Two Studies Show How Light Rail Benefits Houston
Finally, the city seems to be reaping benefits from a major investment in public transportation.
Orange County to Remove 1,000 Homeless People From the Santa Ana River
Responding to local homeowners and politicians, Orange County will clear homeless encampments from a riverbed and stormwater channel under its control.

After Amazon: Planning for Regional Growth
The dichotomy in economic outcomes around the country won't be solved by one-off competitions like the bidding process to land Amazon's second headquarters.

What About the 218 Left Behind By Amazon?
A CityLab article surveys Twitter for the seven stages of Amazon grief.

The $5 Billion Question: Will Cities Win or Lose in the Bid for Amazon's Second Headquarters?
We asked more than a dozen urban experts: How will cities gain or lose from the competition to host Amazon's second North American headquarters?

Residents Move Into America's First Solar Powered Town
Residents will live in solar powered homes and ride around the community in self-driving, solar-powered shuttles. Babcock Ranch outside of Fort Myers, Florida, has been in the making since 2005. A city of 50,000 is forecasted.

Amazon Announces 20 Finalists for its Second Headquarters
In September, 238 applicants dreamed the impossible dream of attracting the second headquarters of Amazon, along with some 40,000 jobs. Today, all but 20 of those applicants will have to find a new quest.
'An Adult Day Care on Every Corner:' Aging in the Rio Grande Valley
In a region where most people “age in place,” facilities offering services and socialization give primary caregivers a much-needed break.

Well Planned Bus Routes Can Help Improve Poverty
A new study by Rahul Pathaka, Christopher K. Wyczalkowskib, Xi Huangb produces new evidence for the most effective method for improving conditions of poverty.

Wisconsin Ad Campaign Ridicules Illinois to Attract Millennials
A critique of the "Wisconsin: It's more you" ad campaign serves as a lesson for anyone who throws the word Millennial around like a magic talisman.

Hawaii Population in Rare Decline
The population of Hawaii fell in 2017 for only the third time since 1959. High housing costs are likely to blame.

Op-Ed: Time to Ditch the Old Data Used to Separate Gentrification From Displacement
Norman Oder asks readers to question the evidence traditionally cited in arguments that attempt to disprove displacement as a consequence of gentrification.

U.S. on Track to Record Oil Production This Year
The current U.S. record is 10 million barrels per day set in 1970. Last year averaged 9.2 million b/d. Experts believe that record will be reached this spring, if it hasn't already. Can Trump claim credit for the surging production?
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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