Broward County, Florida, will take a large step Friday towards completing its plan to incorporate the county's 60 unincorporated areas by 2010. Only 14,000 people will still live in unincorporated areas, down from over 150,000 10 years ago.
"Friday's the day when pockets of unincorporated areas and their populations of nearly 10,000 people will become parts of five cities. This leaves just 14,190 people still living in unincorporated areas. When a concerted push to incorporate or annex all of Broward -- except some large county facilities -- into cities by 2010 began in 1996, nearly 150,000 people were living in nearly 60 unincorporated areas, the largest being Weston."
The county is being praised for its good rational planning measures as residents are now able to obtain basic services such as garbage collection from the cities they are now a part of. The brunt of providing services is gradually being taken off the shoulders of the county, which many believe will now function more efficiently.
FULL STORY: Good planning, good government

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk
Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing
The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland