Community / Economic Development
Combatting the Food Desert of Detroit
Grist's food editor visits Detroit, where the lack of grocery stores has inspired a number of innovative, locally-grown food projects.
Despite Expenses, Athens Enjoys Transit Legacy of 2004 Olympics
The 2004 Olympics in Athens burdened the city with underutilized venues and deep debt. But the event also vastly improved pedestrian and public transportation.
Shedding Light on the Creeping Costs of Sprawl
Studies comparing tax revenues from a per-acre perspective show significant gains for municipalities with dense, mixed-use development.
Sound Assault on Mall Loafers
Mall officials in Washington D.C. are fighting back against young people accused of causing a ruckus outside shopping areas by installing a device that emits an annoying high-pitched frequency only audible to young people.
Community Transforms Street Overnight
Local residents bring life back a desolate line of shops in Oak Cliff, a streetcar suburb of Dallas, overnight. The intention of the Better Block project is to demonstrate the value of pedestrian friendly spaces and encourage future investments.
Waterfront Planning in a Shrinking City
What happens when a major retailer pulls out of a waterfront redevelopment project?
Innovative "Catalyst Projects" Need Support
Calfornia's Dept. of Housing and Community Development recently dubbed a number of developments as "catalyst projects." Paul Shigley says they're well chosen, but money would have worked better than medals.
The City of London Diversifies With New Mall
The City of London - the financial district comprised of one square mile of London's Roman boundary has erected a new shopping center that planners hope will stimulate the area's development as a competitor to the busier West End.
Masdar Highlights Policy Shift Away From Autopia
Robert Wright describes the policy shift already underway in planning for cities of the future. He reports that "as energy becomes more expensive, cities will have to be much more compact, easier to navigate by bike and on foot."
An Urban Framework Based on the Slum
Many people have argued that global cities can take lessons from informal communities like Dharavi and the favelas of Brazil. Designers Pavlina Ilieva and Kuo Pao Lian have created a new framework for city development based on these informal cities.
Re-Rio
With the next World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics on their way, Rio de Janeiro is in the midst of a vast citywide regeneration campaign.
Growth in the Hollywood of Michigan
Fueled by a generous tax incentive, Michigan has seen its film industry grow in recent years. Much of that growth is centered in Metropolitan Detroit, and is expected to continue its upward trend.
5 Major Factors Behind America's Strongest Cities
Derek Thompson reports on the twenty strongest metro areas and the major factors behind their success in recovering from the recession. He concludes that the country "did not experience an even, cross-country recession."
New Film Documents a Living Detroit
A documentary currently touring the country sets out to show that Detroit is not dead, highlighting the entrepreneurs, artists and activists that are currently reclaiming and rebuilding Detroit.
The Example of Miami, a Global City
Miami could be the next major American city, and one that other global cities should try to emulate, according to this interview with economist Saskia Sassen.
Recovery Through Open Data in Detroit and New Orleans
In Detroit and New Orleans, open data proponents are pushing local government to share public data in ways that help citizens in these struggling cities to improve their communities.
Developing Detroit's New Comprehensive Plan
The city of Detroit is looking to create a comprehensive plan for rethinking the struggling city. Next American City talks with the officials heading the effort about the challenges they face.
The Economic Benefit of Density
Richard Florida says that the economic benefits of 'agglomeration' are seldom given the attention they deserve. A new study by Florida and the Martin Prosperity Institute aims to do just that.
Shifting Federal Transportation Dollars to Create More Jobs
Shifting federal transportation dollars to transit projects could help create up to 180,000 jobs and not raise the federal deficit, according to a new report.
Paris, City of Bees
The BBC reports that there is a surge in urban beekeeping in Paris, with 400 hives and growing within the city limits.
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
