Community / Economic Development

Will Sarasota Pass The Duany Test?

Six years ago Andres Duany helped craft a new 20 year masterplan for the City of Sarasota, Florida, which prides itself on being a city with a small town feel. This week he returns to gauge the city's progress.

January 10, 2007 - Bradenton Herald

Nashville Wrestles With Issue Of Low-Income Housing

While programs for moderate-income first-time homebuyers are popular with residents, support for low-income rental housing remains low.

January 9, 2007 - The Tennessean

Ed Blakely's Ideas For New Orleans' Recovery

In his new job as the executive director for recovery management in New Orleans, Ed Blakely brings decades of experience and a few potentially controversial ideas.

January 9, 2007 - The Times Picayune

Good Times Threaten Community Development Corporations

Community development corporations were created about a generation ago to build housing in impoverished neighborhoods of New York City where private developers had given up. Now that these areas are flourishing, these CDCs face an uncertain future.

January 9, 2007 - The New York Times

Salt Lake City Hopes TOD Will Rejuvenate Depot District

A new rail line set to break ground in Salt Lake City is getting city officials excited about the prospect of increased connectivity and transit oriented development.

January 7, 2007 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Revitalized Downtown Struggles With 'Hangover' Effect

While many downtowns struggle to attract residents and visitors, Madison, Wisconsin has succeeded in creating a vibrant nightlife scene, so much so, that overcrowding and alcohol-related crime have become a serious problem.

January 7, 2007 - The New York Times

Seattle's Sustainability Strategies

The National Trust Main Street Center profiles community sustainability strategies from Seattle and other Washington State communities.

January 6, 2007 - Main Street News

Public Libraries Act As Refuge For Many

Public libraries are increasingly being called upon to provide disaster services and support for those chronically in need, such as the homeless and seniors, yet their budgets continue to be cut.

January 6, 2007 - Utne Reader

Condos Rise In Forward Thinking Blue Collar Town

A company town near Seattle leveraged former Boeing property to attract new residential and commercial development, and is even luring the city's sports teams and the Seattle branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.

January 5, 2007 - The New York Times

Community Divided Over Historic Designation

Residents in one New York City neighborhood are split over whether the creation of an official historic district would help or hurt their community.

January 2, 2007 - The New York Times

'Nuclear Blast-Zone' Ring Development

Over security concerns, the U.S. government has moved some of its federal offices outside the "nuclear blast-zone" of Washington D.C. The move of offices about 75-miles from the D.C. ground zero is bringing an economic boom to the area's small towns.

January 2, 2007 - The Washington Post

Richmond Learns To Grow Smaller, Smarter

Richmond, Virginia is one of many cities using innovative strategies to deal with the consequences of a shrinking population.

December 28, 2006 - USA Today

Reforming Toward Prosperity: 2006 In Review

The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program provides a review of its work in 2006, along with a list of the ten most noteworthy trends.

December 28, 2006 - The Brookings Institution

Do Poor Neighborhoods Keep People Poor?

Studies tracking subjects in HUD's Moving to Opportunity program have shown surprising results. While girls thrive and adults feel safer after moving to more affluent neighborhoods, boys actually fare worse. And incomes don't rise.

December 28, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Light Rail An Expected Economic Boon In Oregon

A new light rail project connecting several towns to downtown Portland, Oregon, is highly expected to boost the area's economy. Transit-oriented housing and retail development is expected to contribute significantly.

December 24, 2006 - The Oregonian

Britain Cuts Poverty Using U.S.-Style Methods

Borrowing rhetoric and programmatic ideas from U.S. efforts, the Blair administration in Britaan has managed to cut the nation's child poverty rate by more than half. But anti-poverty policies have not been without their critics.

December 24, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Austin To Consider New Fund To Save Downtown 'Mom and Pops'

With new development threatening quirky non-chain restaurants and other retail stores, the City of Austin wants to create a fund to support and attract certain types of downtown businesses.

December 24, 2006 - Austin American-Statesman

When Going Gets Tough, Struggling Small Towns Get Creative

Across America, small towns are struggling to get by economically as many residents move out and businesses follow. But some small towns are employing some creative ideas -- from giant killer bee statues to storytelling festivals -- to stay afloat.

December 23, 2006 - The Economist

Ohio Tax-Sharing Program Looks To Boost Regional Economy

Representatives from seven Northeast Ohio counties are looking to form a regional partnership that would include tax-sharing, comprehensive regional planning and an equitable distribution of service and affordable housing.

December 22, 2006 - The Plain Dealer

A Sharp Population Decline Predicted For Japan

A new report has been released in Japan that projects a sharp drop in the country's population over the next 50 years. The report predicts that a declining birth rate will cause a decrease of more than 30% by 2055.

December 21, 2006 - BBC

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.