Community / Economic Development

Social Distancing

COVID's New Demographic

Younger people are making up more of the new cases of COVID-19 as the coronavirus explodes in the Sunbelt states, particularly Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, bringing with it new attention on bars as settings for high viral transmission.

June 29, 2020 - The New York Times

Airport

EU to Bar Travelers from U.S. and other High-Infection Countries

In another pandemic reversal, a "safe country" list was completed by EU officials to take effect July 1 to prevent the reintroduction of the coronavirus. President Trump banned travelers from Europe in March to reduce the introduction of the virus.

June 29, 2020 - The New York Times

Coronavirus

Chicago's Planning Director on Leadership During Crises

Maurice Cox, planning commissioner for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, is the subject of this in-depth coverage by the Chicago Tribune.

June 29, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Seattle Victorian

Limited Housing Supply Correlated with Higher Rates of Gentrification

For insights into the gentrification of U.S. urban areas, researchers studied high-income buyers of housing in lower-income neighborhoods. To slow gentrification, the housing supply must be boosted, say the researchers.

June 28, 2020 - Urban Institute

Social Distancing

Texas Hits Pause as Hospital Beds Fill Up

Coronavirus cases are surging throughout the South and West. With growing hospitalizations threatening the capacity of the health care systems in major cities in Texas, Gov. Gregg Abbott pressed 'pause' on the state's reopening plan.

June 26, 2020 - The Washington Post

Coronavirus

The Eviction Crisis Is Already Here

Without rent relief from Congress, the recent wave of evictions could become a tsunami, according to housing advocates.

June 25, 2020 - Diane Yentel via Twitter

Saint Louis gateway arch and Kiener Park

St. Louis Plans to Become a Global Hub of Geospatial Tech

St. Louis stakeholders hope to build on the momentum provided by the arrival of the new western headquarters of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

June 25, 2020 - St. Louis Public Radio

Mix of Uses

Zoning Changes for Economic Resilience During and After the Pandemic

Cities can and should look to make changes to the zoning code to support local businesses through this particularly challenging time.

June 25, 2020 - Code Studio

Coronavirus and Transportation

More than a Pause: Reversing the Reopening

As coronavirus infections grow throughout the South and West, governors and local officials will need to consider rolling back their reopenings. Bars and nightclubs closed in Boise on Wednesday in what may be a sign of what's to come.

June 24, 2020 - Idaho Statesman

Protesting racism

Anti-Racism at the Neighborhood Level

Communities across the country need to dismantle exclusionary barriers and rebalance spending to invest more equitably across neighborhoods, according to this article by the Urban Institute.

June 24, 2020 - Urban Institute

Social Justice

Anti-Racist Reforms for the Urban Planning Status Quo

An urban planner in Vancouver defines the roots of racism in city building, and calls on urban planners to be more effective anti-racist allies.

June 24, 2020 - The Tyee

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

The 30-Year Mortgage Faces an Unprecedented Threat: Climate Change

The climate crisis will present more of an existential crisis to the traditional U.S. mortgage market than any previous financial crisis, according to some of the experts cited in the article.

June 23, 2020 - The New York Times

London

Economic Stimulus in England: Speed Up Planning Approvals

To help jumpstart the economy in England, the country is taking the bureaucracy out of the planning process.

June 23, 2020 - Financial Times

Florida Sign - Welcome to Florida

Model Predicts Next U.S. Coronavirus Epicenter

For the third consecutive day, COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State have set records, exceeding 4,000 for the first time. PolicyLab in Philadelphia now predicts Florida will be the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. by mid-July.

June 22, 2020 - WTSP-TV

Millennial Commerce

Report Assesses Equity Outcomes for the Opportunity Zone Program

Critics have raised doubts and concerns about the potential misuse of the federal Opportunity Zone program since it was approved in 2017, but a new report finds some evidence that the program is working toward its promoted intention.

June 22, 2020 - Urban Institute

Coronavirus

City vs. State: Mayors Want Power to Require Mask Wearing to Slow Coronavirus Spread

Coronavirus cases are surging in the Lone Star State's urban areas, so mayors of nine of its largest cities asked Greg Abbott for the power to mandate the wearing of masks or facial coverings, prohibited by executive order, to slow viral spread.

June 21, 2020 - The Texas Tribune

New Orleans Musicians

New Rockefeller Foundation Program Supports 'Credit Invisible' Communities in Crisis

The Rockefeller Foundation is launching a grant program intended to prevent displacement as Black and Latino communities experience the worst public health and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

June 19, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Tamir Rice

Planning Beyond Mass Incarceration

Sheryl-Ann Simpson from Carleton University, Justin Steil from MIT, and Aditi Mehta from the University of Toronto write about a recent article they co-authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

June 18, 2020 - JPER

Public Outreach

Regulatory Considerations for Online Public Engagement: Ensuring the Viability of Projects

As online engagement becomes increasingly important during COVID-19, so does understanding compliance with legal requirements.

June 17, 2020 - Stantec

Park Rendering

Community Park Addresses Open Space, Air Quality Disparities in L.A.

Lou Calanche and Esther Feldman discuss the Natural Park at Ramona Gardens, a green solution project to improve air quality and community health in one of the most polluted neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

June 17, 2020 - The Planning Report

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.