Community / Economic Development

Pharmacy

Boise Residents Revolt Over Planned CVS

A huge public response shows that the booming city is defining a new future with smart growth.

December 20, 2017 - CityLab

Gateway Arch Rendering 2

Gateway Arch Finally Connects to Downtown St. Louis

A $380 million project bridges a freeway and connects the Gateway Arch to downtown St. Louis.

December 19, 2017 - New York Times

Capitol Hill

What the Final Tax Reform Bill Has in Store for Housing and Development

The final version of the tax reform bill included some surprises with regard to housing and infrastructure funding mechanisms threatened in previous version of the bill.

December 18, 2017 - American Planning Association

Trump Campaign

HUD Secretary's Op-Ed Focuses on Local Homelessness Solutions

Secretary Carson argues that local housing solutions can solve homelessness.

December 18, 2017 - USA Today

Explained: Keys to Affordability in Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances

Zoning ordinances are one of the most powerful ways local governments regulate development, and they should work to implement the policies in a Comprehensive Plan Update.

December 15, 2017 - PlanIt - Metropolitan Council

Flood Damaged Suburb

Hurricane Harvey and the Failure of the National Flood Insurance Program

Houston's most recent natural disaster is only the latest example of how a program created to help homeowners has been a greater benefit to the industries that profit from them.

December 15, 2017 - Houston Chroncle

Ski Jump

Money Earmarked for Detroit Convention Center Could Go to a Ski Jump Instead

The Northern Michigan Sports Commission hasn't even been created yet, but it already has funding clout in the state government.

December 14, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Poverty in the Depression

No Place to Call Home: A Review of 'Homeless: Poverty and Place in Urban America'

In a history of the skid rows in American cities from the late 19th century until the urban renewal era of the 1960s, Ella Howard tells of the impoverished people who inhabited them and the policy choices that supported their existence.

December 13, 2017 - Linda Day

Delray, Detroit

A Detroit Neighborhood 'Sentenced to Die'

A handful of Delray residents refuse to be displaced by industry, but the plan for a new bridge may mean they don't have a choice.

December 13, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Brightline

All Aboard Florida's Brightline Set to Launch this Month

The privately funded, diesel-powered trains will run at speeds up to 79 mph between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with an extension to Miami opening early next year. Real estate development is key to profitability.

December 11, 2017 - WBUR

Gold Rush San Francisco

Boomtowns No Longer Attract Waves of New Workers

The latest Upshot by Emily Badger looks at why American cities with the greatest economic opportunity no longer attract the population increases of yore

December 11, 2017 - The New York Times

Los Angeles

A Sermon for the Homeless

A recent conference hosted by the American Institute of Architects in Los Angeles shined a light on efforts to reduce homelessness in Los Angeles—and demonstrated just how much work must be done nationwide to solve this humanitarian crisis.

December 10, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Los Angeles Arts District

The Artist Hubs of America

Data analysis reveals which cities have the most working artists.

December 9, 2017 - CityLab

YIMBYs Arrive in Boston

The Boston Globe explores the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement, as debate over a retail project in East Boston gains pro-development interest.

December 8, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Homelessness

Hepatitis A Outbreak Spurring Cities to New Actions on Homelessness

A series of articles from around the Internet in recent weeks highlights the need for more services and support for the homeless. The location of this story is set in California, but all communities should heed these warnings.

December 8, 2017 - Wired

Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pocono, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Gambling Expansion Proving Unpopular at the Local Level

The state thought more casinos would be a good way to raise some revenue for the state. So far a lot of local governments want no part of that action.

December 8, 2017 - WHYY

Washington, D.C.

VA Reverses Course on Cuts to Popular Homeless Veterans Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs prompted outcry when it told advocates and its partners at the Department of Housing and Urban Development that it would cut $460 million for long-term housing for homeless veterans.

December 7, 2017 - The Washington Post

Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma

A 'City Vitality' Metric

Gallup and the city of Tulsa have partnered on the new Gallup-Tulsa CitiVoice Index.

December 7, 2017 - Smart Cities Drive

Mapping the Country's Debt

An interactive map from the Urban Institute invites comparisons in the geography of debt.

December 6, 2017 - Urban Institute

Eichler

Third Rail of the Housing Debate: More Density in Single-Family Neighborhoods

If California is going to address its chronic housing shortage, single-family residential neighborhoods can no longer be ruled "off limits." Opposition to a small Berkeley subdivision spawned new housing legislation and fostered the YIMBY movement.

December 5, 2017 - The New York Times

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.