Community / Economic Development
Big Boxes Heading Downtown
With growth controls making suburban properties less attractive and wealth becoming concentrated in older centres, Canada's big box retailers are looking downtown for new locations.
Beautification Not Enough to Create Italy in Inverness
Using Milan as a model, Inverness, Scotland has lofty plans for its Old Town. To achieve them, asserts one local historian, the city must get creative--and more optimistic--in meetings its challenges.
A Grand Public Space in Indianapolis
Civic leaders in Indianapolis are considering closing Monument Circle to traffic. Says one, "From a European perspective, this could be one of the great public spaces in America."
Gulfport Making No Small Plans Either
Gulfport, Mississippi lays plans to be the home of America's largest container port facility.
The Ten Richest Cities in 2020
Looking into a future gone increasingly urban, the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has made a list of the ten cities or urban areas that will be the richest in 2020.
Planners Need to Treat New Orleans Like Beijing and Dubai
This article from The New York Times contrasts the rapid development of cities like Beijing and Dubai, while New Orleans continues to struggle in its Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.
Hasidic Community Wants to Ban Bike Lanes
Religious leaders In the Williamsburg Hasidic community are calling for a ban on bike lanes in their neighborhood because of bikers passing through in revealing clothing. One Hasid says, "It bothers me, and it bothers a lot of people."
Facing the Question of Population Growth
The issue of population growth and its impact on society has been a taboo for decades. Neal Peirce jumps head first into this thorny issue.
Cambodian Cool
The Cambodian city of Siem Reap is a hotbed of tourist activity -- and of tacky hotels. Many say this sprawl of hotels is a major problem in the city, but new designs are making the city a cooler place to visit and live.
New Philly Slots Site May Help Gambling Fit Better
Philadelphia is still trying to figure out where to put its two approved casinos as it prepares to become the nation's biggest city to host gambling. In this piece, Inga Saffron says a new proposed site could make gambling work for Philly.
Reverse Globalization May Bring Manufacturing Back to Mexico
Outsourcing work to China has gotten costlier due to increasing fuel and labor costs. As a result, some American companies are pondering a return to Mexico to manufacture their goods instead.
Little Havana Stadium Moves Forward
Despite controversy over its funding,location and impact, the Florida Marlins are likely to build a new retractable-roof stadium on the former site of the Orange Bowl in the city's Little Havana neighborhood.
Too Many Malls, Too Few Tenants
Large shopping centers across the country have grown in quantity and size for years, but developers say that overbuilding may now be a problem.
Do Cities Deserve More Hotel Taxes?
Atlanta and other cities in the U.S. are fighting for a greater share of hotel taxes paid as a result of bookings through online sites.
World's Most Expensive City: Luanda?
Luanda, Angola has brushed past Tokyo and London to be the world's most expensive city, and slums cover much of the city's prime real estate.
Residents Worry About Lines as Burger Stand Moves In
A wildly popular New York burger stand is expanding to a second location, and many residents worry that the stand's long lines will move into their neighborhood.
Mumbai Slum A Battleground Between Dwellers and Developers
The battle over development continues in Dharavi, the largest slum in India. Its valuable location in Mumbai has had developers' mouths watering for years, but residents have resisted their drive to demolish and rebuild the slum.
Leading With Our Stomachs
Surrounded by storefronts, but nowhere to shop? Charlotte, NC, like many reviving downtowns, has a plethora of restaurants but a lack of significant retail.
Forget Las Vegas, Viva Macau
The Chinese coastal city of Macau has passed Las Vegas as the biggest gambling city in the world. This article from Smithsonian Magazine looks at how it got there.
Concerns Persist as Venue is Cut From World Cup Dress Rehearsal
Delays in construction have cased FIFA officials to remove Port Elizabeth from the list of host cities for the 2009 Confederations Cup, the dress rehearsal tournament before the 2010 World Cup. Concerns remain about the country's readiness.
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
