Community / Economic Development

Rising Rents, Stagnant Economy
Since the 1970s, many American cities have played host to rising rents and stagnant incomes. Richard Florida writes about how the "great rent squeeze" might be choking the country's economic prospects.

The 'Night Mayor' Phenomenon Spreads
Managing cities' sometimes-turbulent relationship with their nightlife, "night mayors" help cities capitalize on an industry that has become a marker of urban prestige.

Austin Will Use Virtual Reality to Attract Foreign Direct Investment
The city of Austin hopes that virtual reality can connect foreign investors and proposed development projects in need of funding.

The San Francisco Bay Area Voted for a Sustainable, Inclusive Future
We can’t simply rely on the federal government to solve the San Francisco Bay Area’s challenges. Time and time again, we have turned to local do-it-yourself solutions. This year, voters rolled up their sleeves and took matters into their own hands.

Black Friday Is A Case Study On Why Parking Minimums Are Ridiculous
At most big box stores, the parking lots occupy far more land than the stores themselves, sucking up unnecessary resources from our communities.

Is a 'Bright Lights District' a Good Fit for Atlanta?
Brightly lit pedestrian and commercial districts like Times Square and Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo are some of the most famous urban environments in the world. But that doesn’t mean they work in every city.
The Cost of Thanksgiving at Whole Foods in Englewood in Chicago
Is Whole Foods making Thanksgiving accessible for residents of Englewood in Chicago?
New Ohio Law Fast Tracks Foreclosures for Vacant Properties
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland provides an early assessment of a new foreclosure law in Ohio designed to help reduce vacant and blighted properties in the state.

Who Benefits from the East Bay's Big Bus Rapid Transit Project?
A key commercial corridor connecting Oakland and Fremont in the East Bay Area is due for a dramatic transformation in the form of a new Bus Rapid Transit line.

Op-Ed: Invest in Public University Development Projects to Protect Jobs
The case for state investments in public university campus development projects in Oregon.
What Now for Philly Neighborhoods Reconnected by the Rebuilt 41st Street Bridge?
The city of Philadelphia's "most notorious unfinished infrastructure project" is now complete. What will the rebuilt 41st Street Bridge mean for the neighborhoods on either side?

Obama Order Creates the Council on Community Solutions
The Obama Administration recently offered a parting gesture toward better coordination between the federal government and local and regional municipalities.

Revealed: Inequality And Urban Flight Were Products Of The Federal Government.
If you believe sprawl just magically happened, here's something that visually suggests otherwise.
Albanian Mayor Curbs Pollution With Data and Children's Help
As mayor of Tirana, Albania, Erion Veliaj has introduced alternatives modes of transport to the city’s traffic-clogged streets and made the public a full partner in the process.

The Vision for a Revitalized Downtown in Akron, Ohio
It's been a busy year for planners in Akron, Ohio. The most recent accomplishment is the completion of phase 1 of the Downtown Vision and Redevelopment Plan.

Two Towns, One Brewery: What Roanoke Can Learn From Bend, Oregon
The opening of the Bend, Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery in Roanoke, Virginia is bringing a new realm of possibilities for future development in the former railroad town, as it looks to go from "trains to brains."
The Future is Fiction
What will our cities look like in the year 2050?

Four Ideas for Bolstering Community Development Financial Institutions
As gentrification pressures push into ever expanding parts of country, the need for inclusive community development continues to grow along with it. The Urban Institute shares some ideas for ensuring the financial clout of CDFIs.
Report Finds Rising Poverty in Greater Houston
The Kinder Institute reveals a "stunning trend" of poverty spreading around Houston.
Trends and Strategies in Urban Assessment Districts
Business improvement districts and other assessment districts are evolving as more residents move downtown. Among other things, place making is more important. Long time district consultant Marco Li Mandri explains the trends and strategies.
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