A recent newspaper investigation in Virginia reveals that payday loan operations are eschewing poor neighborhoods and setting up in suburban areas.
"An analysis by The Virginian-Pilot [newspaper] reveals the [new] face of payday lending: Lenders are targeting middle-income neighborhoods, usually near shopping malls, and avoiding poor areas.
It's why neighborhoods with lower median incomes - such as Norfolk's Berkley and Portsmouth's Brighton/Prentis Park - have no payday lenders, while Portsmouth's solidly suburban subdivisions along Portsmouth Boulevard near Chesapeake Square Mall have a cluster of them.
Payday lenders have even opened shop in upscale areas such as Chesapeake's Edinburgh Commons, which is near million-dollar homes. Advance America is one of 12 payday lending outlets within a half-mile of The Gallery at Military Circle. According to the 2000 census, neighborhoods in that area reported median incomes of $30,000 or more, placing them solidly within Norfolk's middle and working classes."
FULL STORY: Who uses payday loans? Not who you might think.
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.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden
Wildfires in Los Angeles not only pose immediate physical health risks but also lead to long-term respiratory problems and mental health struggles, underscoring the need for a coordinated public health response to mitigate their lasting effects.
Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools
Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.
What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail
The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research