Community / Economic Development

What Toronto Could Learn From Chicago

Margaret Wente lists Chicago's strengths and criticizes Toronto's mayor for the city's problems.

June 19, 2007 - The Globe and Mail

Reviving 'Deadmonton'

Despite a booming oil economy and a population of almost a million people, Alberta's capital city of Edmonton finds "place branding" a struggle.

June 19, 2007 - The Globe & Mail

L.A.'s One Way Proposal Goes The Wrong Way

While there's no doubt Los Angeles has a traffic problem, it would be a mistake to put congestion relief over neighborhood revitalization.

June 18, 2007 - James Rojas

Getting College Students To Stay And Put Down Roots

Pennsylvania attracts more college students than any other state. Now officials are trying to figure out how to have the economy benefit further by getting them to stay after graduation.

June 17, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Following in The Footsteps Of Chinatown

From Thai Towns to Little Ethiopias, cultural and ethnically-themed neighborhoods are increasingly sought by cities to lure economic activity and residents.

June 17, 2007 - The Economist

Bringing People To Downtown To Spur Development

Rather than investing in new downtown development projects and hoping for people to come, Fort Worth, Texas, is trying to attract more residents downtown with street fairs and events, building a customer base for any future development.

June 16, 2007 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Surviving A Military Base Closure

One Alabama city's efforts at redevelopment serves as an example for communities struggling with the economic impact of a base closure.

June 16, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Want A Strong Economy? Provide Good Child-Care

Research by several economists shows that areas with a lack of child-care suffer economically, since parents are more likely to drop out of the workforce or move to communities with more options.

June 15, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Putting Business Incentives On A Leash

State and local governments are starting to demand money back from companies that receive tax breaks and grants to locate in their community, and then skip town.

June 15, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Rules Limiting Activities In Public Spaces Target Homeless

Broad regulations have been approved in Berkeley, California, that would ban certain activities in public spaces, such as laying on the ground and urinating. This set of rules seeks to impose greater control over the city's homeless population.

June 15, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

For Economic Development, Casinos Don't Pay

While more states are approving commercial casinos in hopes of creating jobs and increasing tax revenues, economists are increasing skeptical of the benefits of legalized gambling.

June 13, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

TODs Prove To Be A Boon For Urban Regions

In this special report, the WSJ examines the growing popularity of rail-based TODs, examining their effect on land values as well as the challenges they may face in obtaining approval.

June 13, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

The Four Drivers Of Kotkin's Opportunity Urbanism

How transportation, density, discretionary income, and limited land-use regulation combine to maximize opportunity zones for upward social and economic mobility.

June 12, 2007 - The Houston Chronicle

Court Grants Local Power Over Big Box Locations

A California State Supreme Court ruling has given cities and counties broad authority of what type of retail developments can move into their municipalities, and where they can be located. Under the ruling, cities will be able to ban big box stores.

June 11, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Low-Income Tenants In D.C. Agree To Relocate

Plans to redevelop several ailing housing projects near the U.S. Capitol into mixed-income communities are moving forward after most tenants agree to relocate voluntarily.

June 10, 2007 - The Washington Post

No City Funds For Big Box Development, Say Voters

Voters in Tennessee have denied a proposal to use city funding to finance the development of a big box retail development. Many in the city say they have missed an opportunity to spur economic development in the small town.

June 8, 2007 - Knoxville News Sentinel

Houston's 'Opportunity Urbanism' Demonstrates Future Of Cities

A recent report by Joel Kotkin and the Greater Houston Partnership offers an alternative to Richard Florida's Creative Class model for the future of cities -- using the Sunbelt metropolis as a case study.

June 7, 2007 - Greater Houston Partnership

Do Rural Areas Offer An Alternative To Offshoring?

Researchers at Virginia Tech are looking at ways to attract companies considering moving overseas to relocate to low-cost rural areas of the U.S. -- a concept dubbed "farmshoring".

June 6, 2007 - Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development

Brooklyn Bio-Diesel Plants Welcomed As Part Of City’s Sustainability Plan

Brooklyn, New York, has a long and soiled history when it comes to fuel production. Now comes plans for two more plants, but so far they are welcomed by the city and surrounding neighbors.

June 6, 2007 - The New York Times

Revitalizing Atlanta's Cradle of Civil Rights

A joint venture between a prominent African-American church and a private developer is trying to breath new life into Atlanta's Auburn Avenue.

June 5, 2007 - International Herald Tribune

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.