One Alabama city's efforts at redevelopment serves as an example for communities struggling with the economic impact of a base closure.
"After years of lobbying to keep their local military base open, residents of this small city in eastern Alabama lost the fight in 1995. Fort McClellan was going to close after 82 years.
In the ensuing economic downturn, Anniston Mayor Hoyt "Chip" Howell Jr. and a small team took advantage of an increasingly popular federal law that gives local communities the responsibility -- and the risk -- for cleaning up and redeveloping closed military bases.
Instead of waiting for the military to clean up leftover munitions, the team hired its own private contractor and financed massive insurance policies to guarantee development. Then they set an aggressive schedule to turn the thousands of acres on Fort McClellan into a thriving residential and commercial center."
FULL STORY: Fighting for Survival
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
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