Community / Economic Development

Homeless Encampment Challenges Policy Makers in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona is struggling to deal with a growing homeless camp in a revitalizing area near the city's Downtown.

Distressed Suburbs Struggle to Recover From Decade-Old Recession
Located primarily in the western states, some suburbs were hit hard by the 2008 recession and still haven't recovered. Many have seen an influx of low-income residents and upticks in crime.

Welcome to the Electric Vehicle Charging Station of the Future
But only if you drive a Tesla. Unlike a traditional "fill-up," charging an EV takes time—30 minutes for Tesla Superchargers—so Tesla provides an exclusive lounge for its customers at a new 40-Supercharger "rest stop" on I-5 in California.

Wrestling with Growth, Equity, and Sustainability
A historic summit with Denver mayors about responsible growth, and a take-to-the-streets protest of gentrification in the city, suggest the need for a better conversation about today’s challenges to urban sustainability.

Expecting a Mass Exodus of Tech Talent From Coastal Cities
An expert says the Republican tax bill is likely to accelerate an exodus away from traditional tech hubs toward more affordable areas.

Colorado Tax Mandates Will Continue to Hurt Rural Areas
When home values rise, the state constitution requires cuts to residential tax rates that severely impact less-developed areas.

Tracking the Increasing Number of Chain Stores in New York City
While the number of national retailers is still growing in New York City, growth is slowing and it concentrated in the restaurant and food sector of the market.

How Anti-Urban State Legislatures Hurt Cities
Creating a new version of the "haves" and the "have nots," Richard Florida distinguishes cities struggling against state-level anti-urban policies from cities that get more support from the state.
The 'Retail Apocalypse' Visits New York City
The trend of store closures sweeping the nation has not passed up New York City. The Guardian takes an in-depth look at the market forces at work on the famous commercial corridors of New York City.
A Review of a San Diego Homeless Shelter by One of its Clients
Orlando Barahona has chronicled his experience as a homeless person, as well as his ideas for addressing the homelessness crisis, in various publications and his own blog. In this post, he reviews a homeless shelter in which he is a "client."

The Most Popular Posts of 2017
All the planning news that's fit to print.

Memphis Finds a Loophole to Rid Two Parks of Confederate Monuments
A victory for local control: Memphis city leaders found a way to rid their city of two racist monuments, over the objection of the State Legislature.
Developers Allege Conspiracy to Thwart Waterfront Development in New Jersey
A lawsuit claims that the town of Edgewater and its most prolific developer worked together to defeat a proposal for yet another high-rise development with views of Manhattan

The Third Coast Atlas Redefines the Legacy of the Great Lakes
A new book of maps, photographs, and essays considers the rich historic legacy of land use and transportation on and around the Great Lakes.
What Planners Need to Know About Aging for Comprehensive Plans
Julia Wolfe, planning specialist for the Ramsey County Public Health, lays out some suggestions to plan for aging population.

Retail Job Decline Tilts Toward Rural Areas
While warehousing and ecommerce jobs are steadily increasing in most parts of the country, rural areas are particularly hard hit by the struggles of the retail sector.

Home Sharing or Illegal Hotel?
Like many companies in the “sharing economy,” Airbnb prides itself on “disrupting” the traditional marketplace—but at what cost to New York’s affordable housing?
Concerns Raised About Skyrocketing Bill for Wisconsin's Foxconn Deal
Governor Scott Walker and Foxconn Chair Terry Gou will sign a contract today that will pave the way for the Taiwan-based company to build a large manufacturing plant in Racine County.

Turning Parking Spaces Into Grocery Stores
The Moby Mart is an autonomous, staffless, mobile store, turning every parking space in the world into a potential new 24-hour store.

Rural Kentucky County Rejects Massive Corporate Development Scheme
After rebuffing a proposal that would land Lockheed Martin, and 3,500 new jobs, its safe to say that Bourbon County, Kentucky probably isn't bidding on the second Amazon headquarters either.
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