Community / Economic Development

Massachusetts Reopens, But Too Early?
Many coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Monday in Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker due to falling COVID cases and hospitalizations, but many experts feel the move is too hasty and could lead to a resurgence in the virus.

Comprehensive Plan Update Stokes Controversy in D.C.
Complex political dynamics are mustering for a showdown over D.C.'s comprehensive plan.

Latino Cultural District Planned for Long Beach
The proposed El Mercado de Long Beach cultural district would be a place to celebrate Latino culture in addition to providing historically neglected support services.

Pedestrian Improvements Planned for Washington State Highway
New medians, dedicated turn lanes, and signalized crosswalks are aimed at improving pedestrian safety along the busy corridor.

New Healthy Regions Planning Exchange Targets Health Inequities
A new Regional Plan Association initiative is assessing potential solutions to historic inequities in planning policy.

Architecture Billings Are Still Declining, But Slower Than Earlier in the Pandemic
A critical economic bellwether is showing tentative signs of recovery.

What Is Redlining?
Redlining is the practice of restricting investment in areas deemed high-risk by banks. The term refers to the red color used to denote undesirable areas on maps used by lending institutions to determine loan eligibility.

San Diego Passes New Vacation Rental Regulations
The city passed a proposal to limit the number of whole-home vacation rentals and implement new regulations and fees for rental property owners.

Dallas Council Begrudgingly Keeps Downtown Streetcar Alive
Council members complain that the Oak Cliff Streetcar is a "vanity project" that drains money from other potential transit improvements.

Philadelphia Leaders Dream Big With New Transit Plan
The plan, which looks more than two decades into the future, seeks to modernize the city's transit system, address inequities, and improve regional connectivity.

New Orleans Weighs Regional Transit Plan
A new proposal would improve wait times for area buses and bring more households within walking distance to transit stops.

How Independent Music Venues Became a Powerful Lobbying Force
A group of venue owners formed in response to the pandemic successfully got a $15 billion support bill passed to help small venues stay afloat during the pandemic.

South Los Angeles Park Is Magically Transformed
An almost two-year, $83-million redevelopment of a large section of Earvin Magic Johnson Park in Willowbrook has been completed, offering much needed green space and new amenities to community members.

How to Fix Racist Housing Policies: Sue the Suburbs
Strengthening U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's civil rights enforcement could send a powerful signal to communities resistant to changing discriminatory housing rules.

Boston-to-New York High-Speed Rail Project Hopes for Federal Support
If completed, the North Atlantic Rail project could transform New England's transportation landscape.

Study Calls Seattle Nation's 'Most Economically Integrated' City
A study of real estate values in Seattle found that townhomes have helped diversify neighborhoods and increase affordability.

Boston Leaders Want A Dog Park in Every Neighborhood
City leaders want to build more off-leash dog parks, partly as a response to the trend of "pandemic puppies" that has led to a sharp spike in urban dog ownership.

Chicago Planning Department Rejects 'Overparked' Six Corners Proposal
In a decision that is still impossible in most of the country, Chicago's Department of Planning and Development is requiring housing and reduced surface parking to approve a retail project.

Higher Lot Coverage to Boost Density
A proposal in Snohomish County, Washington could raise the lot coverage limits in medium density residential zones to allow for more usable square footage.

Cultivating a Culture of Transit
How Detroit, historical home of the U.S. automotive industry, can create a culture of transit and the equitable transportation system its residents need.
Pagination
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