Community / Economic Development

An Investigation of Affordable Housing Failure on the Atlanta Beltline
An investigative collaboration between the Georgia News Lab and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has produced a scathing critique of Atlanta Beltline Inc., the organization shepherding one of the nation's most ambitious public works projects.

The Poetic Grid Maps the Lyrics of Place
There's only one requirement to qualify for Seattle's Poetic Grid project: write a poem about a specific place.

Suburban Poverty in the Denver Region Compares Favorably to National Averages
A more nuanced understanding of suburban poverty is available from an examination of the Denver region.

Friday Friendly: More Houses Should Have Patios in the Front
With so many houses oriented to the privacy of backyards, one street in St. Louis has redefined neighborly by orienting their sitting and relaxation areas to the front yard.
Artificial Intelligence Unlocks the Secrets of Neighborhood Change
Researchers at MIT and Harvard believe that their computer vision system (i.e., artificial intelligence) helps reveal fundamental characteristics of neighborhood change.

Op-Ed: Out-Of-Town Architects Miss a Huge Opportunity
A Cleveland architect offers a scathing critique of the design choices made by one of the city's cultural institutions.

Emory University Wants in to the City of Atlanta
Emory University wants the city of Atlanta to annex its campus. Transit benefits and more could await.
A Female Approach to Commercial Revitalization
Auburn Boulevard in the city of Citrus Heights, California is a case study of what urban strategist Michele Reeves calls the "female approach to economic development."

A Comprehensive Plan for Westeros? Same Issues, More Swordplay
Game of Thrones provides way more sex, blood, and dragons than your typical comprehensive planning project, but the dynamics can be instructive, particularly in places where demand for the high-quality amenities of urbanism out-paces the supply.

Safe for Now, Brooklyn Music Mecca Sees a Cloudy Future
More than 20 percent of New York's smaller music venues have closed in the past 15 years. Although Brooklyn institution Barbes was recently saved by a crowdfunding campaign, its founder is pessimistic about the future of New York's independent arts.

Empowering Doctors to Help Solve Housing Challenges
A survey of the programs taking a proactive approach to the role of housing in health outcomes, and a call for more collaboration between the housing and healthcare industries

Pursuing Inclusion, Equity in the Nation's Capital
The history of Washington, D.C., both recent and distant, has generated one of the most fascinating planning case studies in the country. The man leading the D.C. Office of Planning explains his approach the unique responsibilities of the job.

Survey: What's the Biggest Risk Facing Cities
Politico Magazine put out a big question to "mayors, urbanists and other thinkers": what are the biggest threats that American cities currently face?

The Three Factions of Contemporary Planning and Urbanism
This post is sure to inspire debate. The hope, however, is that it will inspire coordination.

Macy's Looking To Monetize Unused Parking Lots
Macy's sees opportunities to improve the shopping experience by activating empty parking lots.

Twin Cities Regional Forecast Foresees Steady Growth and Big Changes
The Metropolitan Council has released "The Twin Cities Regional Forecast to 2040: Steady Growth and Big Changes Ahead" to provide a foundation for coordinated planning by the Metropolitan Council and local governments.

New Community Plans for South L.A.
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved new plans for parts of South Los Angeles. A focus on transit-oriented development and commercial revitalization has raised concerns over displacement.

Autonomous Vehicles: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out?
The implications of autonomous vehicles for social interactions are potentially vast.

Job Hubs as a Rust Belt Recovery Strategy
While cities in the "Rust Belt" have shown some signs of recovery, one worrying indicator is the large and growing distances between people and jobs. Clustering economic opportunity around job hubs could help.

One Developer's Idea for Regional Housing Solutions in Southern California
New housing development is off to a slow start in Los Angeles in 2017. Although the city defeated an anti-growth ballot measure, LA is still faced with a number of policy and legal challenges to building an adequate supply of affordable housing.
Pagination
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