Community / Economic Development

The Last Retailer Standing

Despite the sudden sale and closure of Portland's once vibrant public market, one pizza parlor owner continues to incur large losses but refuses to shut down.

November 29, 2006 - Portland Press Herald

Garden District Could Breathe New Life Into Downtown

A landscape district featuring restored historic gardens is planned for downtown Columbia, South Carolina. The project will serve as a critical "connecting point" for several downtown areas undergoing revitalization.

November 29, 2006 - The State

Cities Trying To Woo "The Young And The Restless"

Cities are competing for a mobile but vital part of the workforce: the 25- to 34-year olds.

November 28, 2006 - The New York Times

Tourism Recovers Slowly In New Orleans

Travel writer Matt Gross reports on the state of tourism in New Orleans.

November 28, 2006 - The New York Times

The Cycle Of Artist Driven Gentrification

A new conference and exhibition at the Pratt Center for Community Development examines the relationship betweens artists and the struggles over urban space.

November 27, 2006 - The Gotham Gazette

New Rules May Allow Sunday Shopping On Champs-Élysées

Rules may soon be changing along the Champs-Élysées in Paris, allowing more shops to open for business on Sundays -- a day the country traditionally sets aside for rest.

November 27, 2006 - International Herald Tribune

Saving Gay Neighborhoods From Their Own Success

Once a force of gentrification themselves, gays and lesbians are increasingly being displaced from once queer urban enclaves that have become popular and upscale.

November 27, 2006 - Bay Area Reporter

Using A Land Value Tax To Keep Speculation In Check

By taxing land more than buildings, cities can encourage valuable sites to be used productively, rather than banked by investors hoping for even higher prices.

November 27, 2006 - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Sustainable Development Program Benefits Cuba's Mountain Dwellers

A sustainable development program in the Cuban mountains has shown success in revitalizing and diversifying the agricultural-based economy of the mountain regions, as well as in implementing basic infrastructure.

November 27, 2006 - Granma Internacional

Public Housing Shops Strikes Gold

A real estate investment trust in Hong Kong has successfully turned a profit on the retail spaces located in the SAR's myriad of public housing developments.

November 27, 2006 - Forbes

Capitalizing On Downtown Development Plans

Downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina is finally beginning to reap the benefits of its past downtown development plans.

November 26, 2006 - Spartanburg Herald-Journal

After Thanksgiving, Communities Celebrate 'Buy Local Day'

In the city of Portland, local business owners and politicians are calling on the city's residents to counter the massive day-after-Thanksgiving commercial consumption by supporting the local economy on Saturday's third annual "Buy Local Day".

November 24, 2006 - The Portland Tribune

Miami Looks To Build Downtown Ballpark

Despite a large gap in funding, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County are hopeful that a downtown Miami ballpark could be built for the Florida Marlins, adding to the synergy of the new performing arts center and American Airlines Arena.

November 24, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Bringing The Knowledge Economy To Town

The city of Columbia, South Carolina, is crafting an innovative strategy to woo high-tech industries in conjunction with a new downtown research campus.

November 22, 2006 - The State

A Steel Mill, A Wal-Mart, And A City In Need Of Jobs

The opening of new retail power center on the site of a former steel mill in Cleveland, including the city's first Wal-mart, is powerful juxtaposition of the area's former economic lifeblood and the new direction of economic development -- big-box retail.

November 22, 2006 - Cool Cleveland

New Upscale Hotel Threatens Music City's Soul

In Nashville, a debate ensues over an eco-friendly hotel and condominium project that may change the character of a funky downtown commercial strip that dates from the 1940s.

November 21, 2006 - The New York Times

Healthy Foods, Strong Communities

Community groups and politicians are creating new strategies to bring fresh foods into low-income neighborhoods.

November 21, 2006 - Shelterforce Magazine

Scholarship Program Yielding Big Results For City

Kalamazoo's bold scholarship program is helping town's students and emerging as an effective economic development tool.

November 20, 2006 - Michigan Land Use Institute

What To Do With The Stadium When The Team Leaves?

Contrary to popular belief, the City of Oakland made very little profit, if any, on having the Oakland Athletics play at the McAfee Coliseum. The baseball team's pending move within Alameda County frees the stadium for more lucrative events.

November 19, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Boston Moves To Save Restaurant Incubator

City officials want to save Nuestra Culinary Ventures in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, which is facing imminent closure due to longstanding budget woes.

November 18, 2006 - The Boston Globe

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.