Community / Economic Development

Austin Tech Campus

Apple's Big New Austin Campus Revealed, Breaks Ground

November saw a rendering and news of a groundbreaking for Apple in Austin.

December 2, 2019 - The Architect's Newspaper

Pedestrian Signal

Where Enforcement of Jaywalking Equals Criminalization of Homelessness

Records in Salt Lake City show that police in Salt Lake City concentrate jaywalking enforcement in the corner of the city that houses most of the city's homeless services.

December 2, 2019 - The Salt Lake City Tribune

Empty Mall

New Lives for Dead Malls

Suburban malls around the country are shutting down, and the huge spaces offer a variety of opportunities for creative reuse.

November 30, 2019 - The Washington Post

Ohio River

Happy Hour: Open Containers Now Allowed in Bellevue, Kentucky Entertainment District

Bellevue, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, is the latest city to follow in the footsteps on Las Vegas and New Orleans in allowing alcoholic beverages in the public realm.

November 29, 2019 - WCPO

California

24-7 Public Bathroom Pilot to Expand in San Francisco

An experiment in round-the-clock public bathroom access has proven successful, and San Francisco is expanding the program.

November 28, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Homeless Man

Calling for More Humane Treatment, and News Coverage, of the Homeless

Two articles raise questions about the state of humanity, as evidenced by the way news organizations and politicians write and talk about the homeless.

November 28, 2019 - Streetsblog LA

Rams and Chargers Stadium

New Football Stadium a Game Changer for Inglewood

The new home of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Charger is almost ready for prime time. The mayor's economic development dreams are on the line as much as any championship.

November 28, 2019 - The Daily Breeze

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Lessons in 'Transformative Placemaking'

Brookings has collected a year of data on an experiment it calls "transformative placemaking," with case studies from up and down the East Coast.

November 26, 2019 - Brookings

Major Milestone for Chicago-Area Land Bank

The Cook County Land Bank Authority recently participated in its 500th rehab project. Homeowners and entrepreneurs have benefitted along the way.

November 26, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Dollar Store

In Tulsa, Pushing Back on the Dollar Store Incursion

Restrictions in North Tulsa are part of a backlash against the dollar stores flooding communities that are food deserts in need of real grocery stores.

November 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Wind farm and greenhouse gas farm, together

California's Priorities for Electrification and Resilience

CEC Chair David Hochschild shares the commission’s strategy for improving the current grid system and how California has been, and will continue to be, a global leader in clean energy innovation.

November 23, 2019 - VerdeXchange News

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

L.A. Crafting Legislation for 'Anti-Displacement Zones'

The idea that new development results in rising costs for renters in the surrounding neighborhood drives a new effort in Los Angeles.

November 21, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Detroit Vacant

Proposed $250 Million Blight Removal Bond Fails in Detroit

The Detroit City Council dealt a blow to Mayor Mike Duggan by rejecting the mayor's signature blight reduction proposal.

November 20, 2019 - Detroit Free Press

Silo-Breaking Sustainability or Real-Life Lorax: L.A.’s First City Forest Officer

The city of L.A.’s first city forest officer, Rachel Malarich, opines on her new role in facilitating cooperation between the city’s departments to achieve a more equitable urban canopy.

November 20, 2019 - VerdeXchange News

Rep. Earl Blumanauer

Oregon Congressman Takes on Federal Housing Policy

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) offers perspective on the U.S. housing crisis, the scale and complexity of which he argues demands affirmative federal action.

November 19, 2019 - The Planning Report

West Palm Beach, Florida

Opportunity Zone: A Superyacht Marina, Adjacent Luxury Apartment Development

The federal government's Opportunity Zones program is offering a tax break to a marina for superyachts and adjacent planned development in West Palm Beach, Florida.

November 15, 2019 - ProPublica

Brooklyn Bridge

Reimagining Infrastructure

An ambitious and innovative infrastructure program can multiply benefits for cities willing to take bold steps.

November 15, 2019 - Next City

Rural Texas

The Food Deserts of Rural America

When a town doesn’t have a grocery store, it means people don’t have access to food. But grocery stores also play an essential social and economic role in rural places. Community stores are trying to fill in the void.

November 13, 2019 - The New York Times

Atlanta Vacancy

Vacant Properties Weren't Just a Foreclosure Crisis Problem

There are more vacant properties now than there were at the height of the foreclosure crisis in the United States, and many vacant properties are hanging around in growing cities with a shortage of affordable housing.

November 12, 2019 - Marketplace

Report: Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning Sparked Growth

An editorial cites newly released analysis of changes on the North Brooklyn Waterfront since a 2005 rezoning.

November 11, 2019 - The New York Post

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.