Community / Economic Development

The Social Functions of NIMBYism

25 August 2008 - 5:00am
Matthew J. Kiefer assesses NIMBYism in full flower, describing not just its agonies but also its value in democratizing land use planning decisions. He concludes with some constructive advice on how to make the most of this painful but inescapable feature of the development landscape.

Something New Inside Failed Big Boxes

27 August 2008 - 10:00am
USA Today
When big boxes go under, they leave big holes. Communities across America are coming up with some creative ways to reuse the huge spaces left behind when big box retailers move out.

Beijing Sees Brighter Future Than Athens

27 August 2008 - 7:00am
Yahoo Sports
As the Olympics leave town, Beijing appears to be in a much better position to benefit from the games than previous Summer Olympic host Athens.

Redefining Poverty

26 August 2008 - 2:00pm
The Christian Science Monitor
New York City is changing the way poverty in the city is defined, while the Federal government is considering a bill to do the same. Planetizen Assistant Editor Nate Berg reports in The Christian Science Monitor.

Vancouver May Be Livable, But It's Not Happy

25 August 2008 - 2:00pm
Vancouver Magazine
This article from Vancouver Magazine looks at a recent study naming the livable and oft-envied city home to some of the least happy Canadians and asks why a great city has unhappy people.

Last Days of a Way of Life

25 August 2008 - 10:28am

This summer I cycled through beautiful countryside, saw impressive ruins, visited old churches, travelled through small towns and met friendly people.  I also saw communities, deprived of their purpose, coping with decline. I may have even seen the last days of a way of life.  (See for youself, in this issue of Price Tags.)

This was Upstate New York State, along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany – an experience that rivaled any bike tour I could have taken in Europe. For it was there that I saw one of the wonders of the world.

The Erie Canal was certainly that.

Restaurants Draw Crowds, Even As Retail is Hit By Economic Woes

25 August 2008 - 8:00am
The Dallas Morning News
Restaurants are now a better draw than retail in a tough economy, and new retail centers are upping their percentage of eating places to follow suit.

Can Winnipeg Become a Real City?

24 August 2008 - 5:00am
Winnipeg Free Press
Its present form taken only 36 years ago with the amalgamation of 12 municipalities, Winnipeg has still to evolve an "urban culture", argues Nick Ternette.

Five Cities Fighting Abandonment

23 August 2008 - 9:00am
Developer
This article from Developer looks at five cities that are dealing creatively with their foreclosure and abandonment problems.

Ambitious Civic Project Planned by Terrorist's Brother

23 August 2008 - 5:00am
The Independent
Osama bin Laden's brother has announced plans to build the world's longest suspension bridge, connecting Africa and Arabia, and building two state-of-the-art cities at each end -- a project that is expected to cost upwards of $200 billion.

Bridge Building Goes Beyond Transport

21 August 2008 - 2:00pm
BBC
This article from the BBC looks at the new face of bridge development and argues that crossing rivers is no longer the main reason they're built.

Urban Gardens Taking Root in Post-Industrial City

20 August 2008 - 12:00pm
The Atlantic
The non-profit group Nuestras Raíces in Holyoke, Mass. has found urban agriculture a powerful community glue, providing increased food security and economic opportunity to the Puerto Rican population there.

The Rise of the 'House Cow'

19 August 2008 - 7:00am
The Sunday Times
With the price of food climbing, some families in the U.K. are taking to keeping small Dexter cows.

Olympic Games Not Performing For Beijing Businesses

19 August 2008 - 6:00am
The Christian Science Monitor
The economic boost expected from Olympics-related tourism has fallen way short of predictions in Beijing. Many business people blame the government's stringent visa-granting policies.

Church's Development Arm Under Fire in Harlem

19 August 2008 - 5:00am
The New York Times
A powerful Harlem church that has expanded its reach into local real estate development is coming under fire from locals who say their projects are damaging Harlem's small-town character and encouraging gentrification.
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