Community / Economic Development

Road Construction

Op-Ed: On the Pitfalls of Federal Spending

Charles Marohn of Strong Towns makes the case that whoever's in the White House, simply increasing federal spending on infrastructure isn't the wisest move.

January 19, 2017 - Strong Towns

Homeless Encampment

Healthcare Provider Gives $2.27 Million to Help House Homeless in Portland

Kaiser Permanente Northwest has taken action in the fight against homelessness—acknowledging that adequate healthcare is impossible for people living on the streets.

January 18, 2017 - The Oregonian

Chicago Cultural Center

How Chicago Got its Cultural Center

The history of the Chicago Cultural Center, "the nation's first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue," offers insight into the shifting relationships between culture, politics, and money in the third-largest city in the United States.

January 17, 2017 - Soft City

Shopping Mall

Clicks or Bricks: Two Ways Indoor Malls Remain Relevant as 'Public' Space

In his continuing look at places people can exercise - other than the gym - LA park planner Clement Lau writes about the popularity of indoor malls in winter climes for exercising adults and children.

January 17, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Better Block Project Celebrates Diversity in Akron

The Exchange House will open in February, offering a hostel and much more for the immigrant communities of Akron's North Hill neighborhood.

January 16, 2017 - Cleveland.com

West Louisville

HUD Announces $132 Million in New Choice Neighborhood Grants

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced another round of Choice Neighborhood grants in December, awarding five communities a total of $132 million in grant funding.

January 13, 2017 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Green Line

The Green Line: a Boon to Washington, D.C.

How has the Green Line benefitted the economy of Washington, D.C.? A new report counts the ways.

January 13, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Electronic Waste

The Upside of the Looming Resource Crisis

The concept of the circular economy is starting to take hold on governments and business throughout the world. Peter Moskowitz discusses the various ways the concept is being translated into practical, real-world solutions.

January 11, 2017 - Doggerel

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Lucas Museum Finally Finds a Home—in Los Angeles

This story has had more twists than the end of Empire Strikes Back, but it seems like it finally might end in Los Angeles.

January 11, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Tactical Urbanism

Five Low Cost Ideas to Make Your City Wealthier

What do you do when you realize your city is never going to be able to subsidize enough businesses to create the jobs you need?

January 10, 2017 - Modern Cities

Homeless Camp

Illustrating the State of Homelessness in the U.S.

Words and pictures haven't ended homelessness in the United States, but they can help people understand how widespread and deep the challenge is.

January 9, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Homeless

Homeless Rates Climbing in Washington, D.C.

With rapidly rising costs of living, one study shows the number of homeless in the nation's capital is double the national average.

January 5, 2017 - The New York Times

Lynx Light Rail

Charlotte's LYNX Light Rail: Ten Years Later

How has Charlotte evolved ten years since opening the LYNX Blue Line light rail system?

January 5, 2017 - Modern Cities

Brewery

Which U.S. Cities Have the Highest Density of Microbreweries?

Mapping the complete transformation of the beer business in the United States.

January 3, 2017 - City Observatory

Keep Portland Weird

New Mayor Has Harsh Words for Portland's Office of Neighborhood Involvement

A recent city audit has empowered Portland's new mayor, Ted Wheeler, to criticize the Office of Neighborhood Involvement in Portland.

January 3, 2017 - Livable Portland

Bus Lane

San Francisco's Red Carpet Transit Lanes to Continue Through March Evaluation

San Francisco's red, transit-only lanes are a demonstration project. The lanes first appeared in 2013 and were supposed to last two years, with state and federal regulators to determine whether they would continue. The state evaluation began Dec. 6.

December 30, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

How to Encourage Entrepreneurship in Your Town

Entrepreneurship is a hot word these days. Lots of towns say they would like to attract more entrepreneurs and grow their small business communities. But how do you do it?

December 29, 2016 - Modern Cities

Real Estate Industry Executives Brace for Republican Tax Reforms

A proposal by House Republicans to overhaul U.S. tax law is gaining traction, aided by the certainty of the Trump Administration. Included among the proposed reforms are changes that could bring an end to a key benefit of home ownership.

December 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Student Planners at the University of Nebraska Making a Difference in Lincoln

Graduate students pursuing the Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have been collaborating this semester with NeighborWorks Lincoln and city and county partners to assess local neighborhoods.

December 27, 2016 - University of Nebraska College of Architecture

Uber's Self-Driving Cars Leave Hometown for Warmer, and Friendlier Climates

California's loss is Arizona's gain. That's how Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey see's Uber's decision on Thursday to haul their fleet of self-driving Volvos from San Francisco to Arizona after the company refused to secure the necessary operating permits.

December 27, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.