Once the enemy of urban planners for small towns, Wal-Mart has turned into a formidable presence for the rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast.
"Wal-Mart has long been derided by urban planners as an instrument of destruction for small towns, whose locally owned stores and downtowns inevitably collapse against the onslaught of the Goliath's low prices...To bring the plans to fruition will require tremendous private investment, political will, and in the case of Pass Christian, involvement from giant corporations like Wal-Mart. It will also require patience from home and business owners eager to rebuild and local officials anxious to get those properties back on the tax rolls, no matter what the plans call for."
FULL STORY: A new course for new coast

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.

Op-Ed: Looking for Efficiency? Fund Intercity Buses
Much less expensive than rail, intercity buses serve millions of Americans every year, but public subsidies are lacking.
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