Community / Economic Development

Planning Directors Commit to Change on Racial Inequities
Planning directors around the country have acknowledged the historic role of the planning profession in furthering the causes of racial discrimination and have publicly committed to change that history.

Central Texas Town Approves New Trail Network
Kyle trail master plan will tie into a 100-mile Central Texas network connecting greenways in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.

Opinion: To Increase Equity, Make Buses Free
With buses as a dominant transport mode for low-income households and "essential workers," free fares would increase access to economic opportunities and free up limited income for cash-strapped commuters.

U.S. Rents Spiking As More Renters Enter the Market
All of the nation's largest metro areas are experiencing sharp growth in costs and demand for rental housing, posing even more challenges for low-income renters.

Guaranteed Income Program Launched in Arlington, Virginia
The 18-month pilot program will provide $500 to 200 low-income families in the county.

Norwegian City Plans for Zero-Emissions Neighborhood
As it winds down port operations in the area, Bergen plans to transform its Dokken district from a busy shipping hub to a car-free, 'regenerative' zone.

D.C. Inspector General: District 'Misspent' $82 Million in Affordable Housing Funds in 2020
A new report accuses the District of misusing funds and failing to properly monitor projects aimed at creating housing for 'extremely low-income' households.

Five Midwest States to Develop EV Charging Network
The governors hope the agreement will create jobs, reduce emissions, and encourage more widespread adoption of electric vehicles in their states.

Million-Dollar Homes Becoming Standard Fare Across Los Angeles
As households with means seek to escape crowded apartment buildings and take advantage of historically low mortgage rates, average home prices of over $1 million are proliferating across the LA region.

The Role of Play in Public Space Design
'Playable' public spaces can be a powerful tool for creating vibrant, communal, and equitable cities.

California Bans Insurance Companies From Dropping Homeowners in Wildfire Zones
The one-year moratorium is a stopgap measure to assist homeowners affected by recent wildfires as the state assesses ways of addressing the root causes of increasingly damaging natural disasters.

Retail Openings Outpace Closures in 2021
An estimated 20 percent of the stores to open so far in 2021 are Dollar Generals.

Eliminating Single-Family Zoning Alone Won't Solve California's Housing Crisis
While zoning reforms can help reduce barriers to building more housing, high construction costs and local opposition mean that the state won't see an immediate boom in density.

Outdated State and Federal Road Design Rules Hinder Freeway Removal
Although some cities are in favor of removing or reducing urban freeways in favor of more walkable spaces, guidelines like the 11-year-old MUTCD still encourage a 'throughput at all costs' mentality.

Don't Call it a Comeback: Big Cities Are Outlasting Predictions of Demise
As the new world order of working from home and vaccine hesitancy settles in, it's time to reevaluate assumptions from early in the pandemic about the effect of the public health on the economic health of large cities.

Obama Presidential Center Breaks Ground on Chicago's South Side
Years of controversy and delay were in the rearview this week when the Obamas joined the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago to break ground on the Obama Presidential Center .

A State-by-State Wish List for Federal Infrastructure Funding
States have a laundry list of major projects they'd like to see funded if the trillion-dollar infrastructure package passes.

D.C. Considers Centering Equity in Transportation and Land Use Planning Decisions
A plan to prioritize equity would, according to regional planners, increase access to jobs and resources, reduce emissions, and improve public health.

NPR: HUD Sells Flood-Prone Homes Without Disclosing Risks
The troubling trend is particularly pronounced in lower-income communities, where experts worry households are being inadvertently set up for big financial losses.

Census Delays Release of 2020 American Community Survey Data
Due to the challenges faced by data collectors during the pandemic, the Census Bureau will not be releasing 2020 ACS data in September as usual.
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