Good times finally start to rub off on distressed Southland communities hurt most by the recession. Is this good planning or good fortune?
Roughly four out of every 10 people in some of Southern California's most distressed areas are below the federal poverty line. That's double the overall average for Los Angeles County and a reflection of decades of neighborhood decline that are only beginning to be reversed. The areas are still being hurt by the long-running exodus of middle-class and working-class African Americans and others. The Los Angeles Times reports in a feature-length story how the economic boom has helped -- and sometimes overlooked -- Southern California's distressed areas. The LA Times reports on South-Central, Florence-Firestone, Compton, and Santa Ana.
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Economic Boom Boosts Even Blighted Areas

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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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research