Community / Economic Development

Modern high speed bullet train in China

Chinese Rail Firm Pursuing High-Speed Rail Ambitions in California, Indonesia

The China Railway International Group, working with the Chinese Export-Import Bank, responded to the California High-Speed Rail Authority's "expressions of interest." They teamed up with China Development Bank to beat out the Japanese in Indonesia.

October 18, 2015 - Reuters

California Cyclists to Share Bike Lanes With Electric Skateboarders

Just as motorists have had to learn to share the road with cyclists, California cyclists may have to do the same in sharing bikes lanes with electric skateboard riders, according to a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Oct. 11.

October 17, 2015 - SF Gate

Seatle Skyline

Lawyer Sees the 'Ghost of Seattle's Future'

This favorable profile of Jack McCullough, a Seattle lawyer representing developers, highlights his role as a deal-maker. Recent agreements between his clients and Mayor Ed Murray may preserve a path forward for affordable housing.

October 16, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Dutch Fyra Train

Transit Use Thrives on Destination Density

If jobs, services, and other urban amenities are concentrated downtown, suburbanites can use transit to get there quickly without a car. Job sprawl makes transit useless outside central districts.

October 16, 2015 - City Observatory

Manhattan Institute Presses Policy Innovations for 'The Next Urban Renaissance'

A new book from the Manhattan Institute, available for free download, argues that cities will have to full embrace experimentation and evaluation to be true laboratories of innovation.

October 15, 2015 - Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

How Planners Are Helping Build Healthy Food Infrastructure in Boise

The Idaho Plan4Health Coalition is exemplifying the role of planning in improving public health outcomes connected to healthy food and nutrition.

October 15, 2015 - Plan4Health

San Francisco View from Dolores Park

Seattle Looks to San Francisco—For What Not To Do

San Francisco has long been the envy of other cities. But in recent years, as real estate prices have skyrocketed and the city's soul seems on the wane, many cities have begun looking at San Francisco as an example of what not to do.

October 14, 2015 - The New York Times

Hackney Empire

What's the Value of a Music Venue in a Neighborhood? Let's Find Out

With market pressures pushing landowners in London to build pricey new flats, local music venues are getting the boot; but does this make sense economically?

October 14, 2015 - Citymetric

L.A. Metro Tackling Transit's Connection With Gentrification

New leadership at Los Angeles County's Metro says its planning efforts should consider much more than transit routes and service—including the potential for gentrification in the neighborhoods where it's investing.

October 14, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia's New Arrivals Are Unapologetic Gentrifiers

As the new arrivals—young, mostly white urbanites—have descended into some of Philadelphia's working class and immigrant neighborhoods, the push back by locals has been met with a push back by the gentrifiers.

October 11, 2015 - PhillyMag

City Action on Climate Change

Can cities be at the forefront of tackling climate change? According to forthcoming research by Arup and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, cities play a crucial role in addressing this pressing issue.

October 8, 2015 - Doggerel

When Too Many Farmers' Markets Are Too Much of a Good Thing

Few locations are such a natural fit for farmers' markets as Orange County—but the number of certified farmers' markets in the county are shrinking and others are struggling.

October 7, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Jim Crow

The Metamorphosis of Redlining

Redlining has been around for a long time, but across the country, local, state, and federal agencies are filing complaints against banks and other corporations for creative and subtle new forms of discrimination.

October 7, 2015 - CityLab

Why the Cereal Killer Café Struck Gentrification's Rawest Nerve in London

Recent controversies over high-priced restaurants and cafes in formerly working class neighborhoods reveal the deep connections between food and cultural identity.

October 6, 2015 - Pacific Standard

First West Coast LNG Export Facility Gets Critical Federal OK

On Sept. 30, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the final environmental impact statement for a contentious $7.5 billion Liquefied Natural Gas export facility, pipeline, and power plant in Coos Bay, Ore. More approvals are still needed.

October 6, 2015 - Portland Business Journal

Coding for Character: Doing Away With the Zoned Out Nature of Cities

What's keeping the historic parts of your city or town from staying up-to-date and well-loved? Usually, the laws.

October 6, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Planners Face Challenge of Building Neighborhoods and Economic Opportunities

Planners face the increasing challenge of how to improve economic opportunities for individuals while simultaneously improving urban neighborhoods without triggering gentrification.

October 5, 2015 - Governing

Bloomingdale Trail

Substance, Style, and the Success of the 606

The Bloomingdale Trail, the star attraction of the 606 in Chicago, has been compared to NYC's High Line. But with its restrained design and focus on high-use activity, it is nothing like it, and, in certain ways, it's even better.

October 5, 2015 - Mark Hough

Seattle Waterfront Condos

Seattle's Struggle to Build Affordable Housing

The Emerald City's affordable housing difficulties mirror those of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others: too much demand and too few resources.

October 3, 2015 - Crosscut

Chicago Apartments

Chicago Rule Change Encourages Affordable Housing

This month, changes to Chicago's Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) will go into effect, raising the in-lieu fees developers must pay to opt out of building affordable units downtown.

October 2, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

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.