Community / Economic Development

Gallup's 'Soul Of The City' (Creative Class) Poll

The Gallup Organization has been hired to poll 4,000 residents from 20 U.S. cities to determine resident satisfaction. Richard Florida is one of the poll's designers.

July 5, 2005 - The Baltimore Sun

Wal-Mart Blocked in Vancouver, B.C.

Vancouver becomes the first major city in Canada to turn down a Wal-Mart development.

July 2, 2005 - The Globe and Mail

Vancouver Rejects 'Green' Wal-Mart Proposal

Proposal for a "green" Wal-Mart developed especially for Vancouver is rejected as contrary to city's planning goals.

June 30, 2005 - The Vancouver Sun

Supreme Court Justice's Farm Becomes Eminent Domain Target

"someone has made what appears to be a tongue-in-cheek pitch to take over Justice David Souter's New Hampshire farmhouse and turn it into a hotel."

June 30, 2005 - MSNBC

The Life Of A Public Market

A photo essay about Montreal's largest public market and why it is successful.

June 29, 2005 - Maisonneuve

The Community Rating Game

Rating communities is highly subjective even with objectively measured criteria. Often such surveys ignore distinctive neighborhoods that have a sense of identity.

June 29, 2005 - The Cleveland Free Times

The Power Of A Community-Based Development Coalition

The rise and fall of the Chicago Association of Neighborhood Development Organizations illustrates the challenges facing advocacy organizations when they shift to service delivery.

June 29, 2005 - Shelterforce Online

Crime Cameras: A US-City Experiment

Chelsea, Mass., and the Department of Homeland Security are teaming up on a surveillance system that has some residents concerned.

June 28, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

The Little Playground That Could

Through a public and private community effort, a Baltimore public housing project receives a long-awaited playground.

June 26, 2005 - The Baltimore Sun

Behind The Scenes Of Supreme Court's New London Decision

Interviews with residents subject to eminent domain reveal intimidation tactics used by local government officials.

June 26, 2005 - Prison Planet

Empowering Citizens In Community Planning

A new guide, 'Choosing Our Community's Future' offers advice to citizens on how to plan better and 'tame' big box retailers.

June 24, 2005 - Smart Growth America

Cities Adopting Tougher Stances Against Panhandling

Municipalities are making arrests under 'aggressive panhandling' laws despite freedom of speech concerns.

June 23, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

Small Store, Big Impact

Many small businesses add value to communities that can't be measured solely in monetary terms.

June 20, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

America's Cleanest And Dirtiest Cities

A city ranked first or last in a given category does not necessarily mean the city is perfectly pristine or dangerously filthy.

June 19, 2005 - Reader's Digest

Homeland Security Beefing Up San Diego/Tijuana Border Wall

Since 9/11, the border wall that separates the U.S. from Mexico has gone a massive transformation.

June 18, 2005 - Worldview

Clever Advertising Helps New Jersey Town Blossom

The city of Collingswood is fast becoming a blueprint for success on how to market a town successfully.

June 17, 2005 - New Jersey Municipalities

Why America Is Seeing A New Stadium Boom

New ballparks blur the line between sports venue and shopping mall, all in the name of drawing more fans.

June 17, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

Tijuana's Pedestrian Transformation

The Mexican border town must transform if it is to realize its full potential.

June 16, 2005 - Worldview

Housing Boom: Good News, Bad News

The housing boom is likely to last. That's the good news...and the bad news.

June 16, 2005 - The New Republic

Clone Towns: When Chain Stores Take Over

More than 40 percent of British towns have been so overrun by chain stores that they have become "clone towns," according to a new report from the New Economics Foundation.

June 15, 2005 - Home Town Advantage Bulletin

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.