Community / Economic Development

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Could Streamline Temporary Shelters, Permanent Supportive Housing

Los Angeles is exploring multiple angles for sheltering the 34,000 homeless living in the city. Urbanize LA takes a look at two of the city's most recent legislative efforts to develop more supportive housing.

December 5, 2017 - Urbanize LA

Portland's Jade District Is a Planner's Nightmare (and Dream)

The Jade District on Portland's distant east side is a typical geography of wide streets and sprawl, but is also a relatively complete, self-contained community.

December 3, 2017 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ohio River

Army Corps: Climate Change Could Devastate Ohio River Region

The agency's report shows that inland-dwellers are just as likely as coastal types to be deeply affected by climate change.

December 2, 2017 - The Courier-Journal

Managing Airbnb: Regulatory Approaches to Short-Term Rentals

Tech ventures like Airbnb have "uberized" the lodging industry. They have also created new challenges for land use planners and government officials. This article provides a sampling of regulatory approaches to short-term rentals.

December 1, 2017 - Maine Association of Planners Front Page

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Housing Growth Stagnates in Boston Suburbs

Boston economists are sounding the alarm: while the city itself is adding plenty of housing, there's not a lot happening in the suburbs. That may adversely affect older folks who want to sell and younger people looking to buy.

November 30, 2017 - The Boston Globe

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Bus System in Crisis

A new report cites decreased ridership and dismal service despite a growing need for more and better routes.

November 28, 2017 - The New York Times

Who Opposes New York's BQX Streetcar? Not Who You Think

Brooklyn and Queens need better transit, but activists say this waterfront "luxury trolley" is not the way to get it.

November 28, 2017 - Technical.ly Brooklyn

Trolley Map

Trolley System Thrives in Houston Suburb

As ridership soars, the "urban circulator" in the Woodlands Township is getting longer routes and more frequent service.

November 27, 2017 - Houston Chronicle

Detroit Streetcar

Detroit's Rebirth: Beyond the Headlines

John Gallagher takes a look at some of the civic factors and organizations that have worked behind the scenes to pull Detroit through.

November 26, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Oakland, California

A Radical Idea to Help the Homeless: Homeowners Should Open Their Doors

The mayor of Oakland is challenging homeowners to offer their extra rooms and in-law units to the homeless, with a target to create a modest 100 new permanent supportive housing units.

November 24, 2017 - East Bay Times

Bhaji Bazaar

'Community Supported Kitchen' Idea Seeking Support in Portland

A crowdfunding campaign recently launched to support a new kind of commissary kitchen in Portland.

November 23, 2017 - The Oregonian

Empty Retail

Private Equity, Debt, and the Real Causes of the 'Retail Apocalypse'

David Duyen identifies an under-reported culprit in the so-called "retail apocalypse," and challenges policy makers to respond.

November 22, 2017 - New Republic

Rebuild Foundation

Recognizing the Achievements of Black Urbanists

Blogger and planners Pete Saunders is acknowledging black urbanists from all over the spectrum of civic involvement.

November 21, 2017 - The Corner Side Yard

Seattle Brick Loft

Affordable Housing Near Transit: Seattle's REDI Makes Its First Loan

For a city in the middle of a rent crisis, the Tacoma Housing Authority project can't come too soon.

November 20, 2017 - Curbed Seattle

Wind

Offshore Wind Lands on Lake Erie

By 2019, a multi-million dollar project developed by a former "big energy" guy might make Cleveland the new U.S. leader in renewable energy.

November 17, 2017 - Next City

Philadelphia Center City

Friday Funny: Philadelphia Is Very, Very Confident About its Amazon Bid

The lengths to which cities have gone, or will go, in their bids to attract the second headquarters for Amazon has produced a cottage industry of media coverage. Satire from The Onion follows that trail to its most explosive of possible ends.

November 17, 2017 - The Onion

New York Public Art

The 'Deliberately Unkind' Public Art of the High Line

"You could be forgiven for reading the art as a message to less-than-opulent New Yorkers: You’ve lost your place," writes Michael Friedman.

November 16, 2017 - CityLab

Portland Pearl District Streetcar

Study: Economic Displacement Is Bad for Transit Ridership

A TriMet transit agency analysis has identified a culprit in the decline of transit ridership in Portland: gentrification and displacement.

November 16, 2017 - TransitCenter

Denver

Details of Denver's Voter-Approved $937 Million Bond Package

A long list of projects—from roads to projects to libraries and other cultural facilities—will benefit from a $937 million bond initiative approved by voters earlier this month in Denver.

November 14, 2017 - The Denver Post

Crime Watch

Study: Nonprofits, Ordinary Citizens Played Major Role in Crime Decline

As many wonder whether the nation's multi-decade crime decline will continue, research suggests that community groups and local nonprofits have played a larger role in that story than they're given credit for.

November 14, 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.