Community / Economic Development
Hosting Olympics, But At What Cost?
The Olympics can be a huge boon for cities -- in terms of international attention, physical legacies and infrastructural development. But they can also be a huge risk. This piece from Finance and Development looks at the pros and cons.
Where Americans Will Be in 2050
Where will Americans live? Everywhere. The third article in a three-part series based on Joel Kotkin's new book, "The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050," looks at where Americans will live and how our communities will grow to accommodate them.
City Stunts Try to Lure Fiber Optic Internet
A handful of American cities are hoping to become testing grounds for a new fiber optic Internet connection being offered by Google. To catch the company's eye, many of these cities are making concerted -- and sometimes audacious -- efforts.
How the Recession is Downsizing Local Government
Budget cuts are dramatically reshaping many local governments. This piece from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks at how the recession will restructure governments in the Atlanta area.
Big Box Casino On Its Way To Philadelphia
The new casino rising along Philadelphia's Delaware River is likely to be little more than a drab Big Box with gambling inside, according to this review from Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron.
How Much Would You Pay?
Jon Hockenyos makes a radical proposal that cities should establish their own terms for how much local property is worth, free of "market value", in order to unstick frozen property markets.
Embracing Entrepreneurship to Revive Cleveland
Bringing economic vitality back to Cleveland requires a broad embrace of policies that encourage entrepreneurship, according to Reason's Sam Staley.
Replacing Empty Storefronts With Fake Ones
With small businesses closing shop and empty stores lining its main street, the British borough of North Tyneside is creating fake storefronts to create the appearance of a lively shopping area.
Forecasting the New American Economy
In this podcast, Next American City talks with the Brookings Institution's Bruce Katz about the emerging shape of the new American economy.
Detroit Makes Big Hire to Aid Downsizing
Urban planning expert Toni Griffin has been recruited to help Detroit downsize and recover -- thanks to an infusion of money from a private philanthropic foundation.
Feeding the Hungry from the Backyard
One solution to urban food security is surprisingly simple: gathering fruit from backyard trees.
The Challenges of Shrinking Cities
Mayor Bing of Detroit has announced an intention to "right-size" the city. Ed Glaeser talks about what that might mean.
The Rise of NORCs
There are senior-living and retirement communities all over the U.S., but a new breed of housing for the elderly is emerging in cities across the world: the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, or NORC.
Rethinking Urban Alleyways in Seattle
Through a new competition, the city of Seattle is looking to revive and reuse the alleys of the urban core.
Freeways Responsible For Emptying Out Cities
A recent study shows that for every significant freeway that gets built in a major city, population declines by about 18%. Nathaniel Baum-Snow, author of the study, talks with Planetizen.
Spain's High Speed Rail Uses Luxury to Lure
Spain's high speed rail system is consistently beating out airlines for inter-city travel. But it's not through low prices.
Sustainable Pittsburgh
The public image of Pittsburgh is of a dirty, industrial city, but the city has been at the forefront of sustainability for some time.
The Fleeting American Dream
The American Dream is a concept that's had a rough go for the past few years. A new survey shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans don't think that dream can become reality.
Strip Malls Lose Customers During Special Events, Heavy Traffic
Houston Rodeo is actually hurting some businesses around Reliant Center.
Ghetto-ization: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Density
At first glance, the historic Ghetto streetscene in Venice is an appealing new urbanist community. In another place at another time, the virtues of compact, walkable and dense were the very isolation we now abhor.
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
