Community / Economic Development

NYC: 7 Things at Risk, Post-Bloomberg

As Mayor Bloomberg gets set to leave office in New York, here are 7 things that may dramatically change under a new administration.

November 6, 2013 - Future Cities

An Urban Resurgence Driven by Tweets

The arrival of "one of the technology industry’s next big things" has been just the medicine needed to help turn around one of San Francisco's most stubbornly downtrodden areas.

November 5, 2013 - The New York Times

10 Traits of 'Globally Fluent' Cities

City leaders are constantly told technology is making the world smaller, and they need to make sure their city competes on a world stage, but how? Here are 10 traits cities must have in order to be "globally fluent."

November 4, 2013 - Future Cities

TOD in L.A.'s Low-Income Communities Gets $100 Million Boost

With L.A.'s transit system expanding its footprint and growing its ridership, $100 million in development capital from a national philanthropic organization will help fund projects around stations in the city's underserved communities.

November 3, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

The Scary State of U.S. Municipal Finances

Analysis by The Wall Street Journal shows that even as other sectors of the economy fight their way back from the Great Recession, municipal finances lag far behind.

November 2, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Cleveland Caught Between Dreams of Revival and Reality of its Woes

Are the grand plans for reviving Cleveland put forth by city leaders - and hyped by the architecture critic at the city's main newspaper - fantasies masking the city's elemental problems or goals worth pursuing?

October 30, 2013 - Cleveland Magazine

Neighborhoods Matter

Against a backdrop of increasing spatial segregation of incomes, Robert J. Sampson looks at how neighborhood inequality influences multiple aspects of everyday life. How we address such inequality indicates what kind of society we want to be.

October 28, 2013 - The New York Times

Even for Slow-Growth Davis, Providing Land for Tech Companies Proves Too Enticing

Originally intended for permanent farmland and open space, Davis, CA will consider whether 391 acres along its eastern edge should instead be used for a business technology park, reports Mark Anderson.

October 25, 2013 - Sacramento Business Journal

With Vote by City Council, Sacramento to Become Healthier and More Bike Friendly

More bike corrals, bike sharing, and parklets are on the way to the Golden State's capital thanks to the city council's unanimous vote on Oct. 22 with support from cyclists, pedestrians, businesses, and the regional air district.

October 25, 2013 - The Sacramento Bee

Is Downtown Denver Too Popular?

Some of Denver's leaders are sounding the alarm over rising household income levels and the threat to affordable housing. But in an editorial in The Denver Post, Vincent Carroll argues that an exclusive downtown Denver is better than the alternative.

October 25, 2013 - The Denver Post

Were Vancouver's 2010 Olympics Worth the Investment?

A new report says the investments made in hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were worth it. But could the area have gotten the same benefits without the Games?

October 24, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Can Later Bar Hours and 'Noise Areas' Make a D.C. Suburb Hip?

As urban areas across the country compete for those coveted young professionals, "unhip" suburbs have a particularly tough challenge. In Montgomery County, MD, a taskforce has issued its recommendations for addressing this challenge.

October 24, 2013 - The Washington Post

New Paper Makes the Case for Placemaking's Role in Building Community

With the publication of a new paper, PPS is celebrating "an important occasion in the evolution of the Placemaking movement." Through 10 case studies, the paper argues for "the importance of Placemaking as a vital part of community-building."

October 24, 2013 - Project For Public Spaces

Civic Tech and Mobile Engagement 2.0

Community engagement efforts increasingly look to harness mobile devices and mobile applications to access, inform, and empower the public. However the mobile market is evolving at a fast pace, which complicates our understanding of what works best.

October 23, 2013 - This Big City

Is Traffic Congestion Good or Bad?

No one likes to be stuck in traffic. But while empty streets may look great from behind the wheel of a car, they could signal a city in distress. A new study identifies the tipping point at which congestion becomes a drag on a city's economy.

October 22, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

DC Nightlife

Millennial Invasion Creates a "New Washington"

Drawn by plentiful jobs and an improving quality of life, millennials helped swell D.C.'s population over the last decade - to the delight of some and dismay of others. In a series of articles, The Post chronicles the city's "millennials moment".

October 22, 2013 - The Washington Post

New York Skyline Fisheye

A Design and Planning To-Do List for NYC's Next Mayor

Over the past 12 years, New York has been transformed. For the better in some instances (bike lanes, pedestrian plazas), and perhaps not in others (unaffordability). Michael Kimmelman suggests how to build on the successes and correct the problems.

October 20, 2013 - The New York Times

The Gold Standard for Civic Data Delivery

Emily Badger is extremely impressed—and for good reason—with the City of Los Angeles' new neighborhood data portal, built in connection with the development a new health and wellness chapter for the city's General Plan.

October 19, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

What's Wrong With Worcester? A Story of Stalled Revitalization

The $565 million CitySquare project was supposed to spark the revitalization of Worcester's downtown. But 10 years later, the 21 acre site is home to vacant sites and outdated buildings. What went wrong?

October 18, 2013 - The Boston Globe

TIF Trouble in Chicago

Aaron Renn asserts that Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel's misuse of tax-increment financing dollars is hurting the city's poor.

October 18, 2013 - City Journal

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.