Paterson, New Jersey's diverse immigrant population holds the potential to revive the city's declining economy. Writer Jeff Byles documents key resources the city has and how similar postindustrial cities have harnessed community-driven planning.
"...the people of Paterson are deep in the downside of the American dream. Between 2000 and 2010, according to Together North Jersey’s draft regional plan, the state of New Jersey lost nearly 200,000 jobs, with the poverty rate in Paterson hitting 27%. Over the past 50 years, the region’s urban quality of life has cratered, with incomes dropping, racial segregation increasing, and infrastructure crumbling. Paterson, said one recent report, is “one of the most violent small cities in the country.”
If Paterson was a pioneer in urban American opportunity, today it is a prism for understanding the capacity of communities to survive 21st century shocks and stresses. This complex swath of northern New Jersey offers unusually fertile ground to test new tactics for turning blight into fresh opportunities for the 45 million people who live in “legacy cities” like Paterson — 15% of the United States population, according to one study — that have lost their economic mission."
FULL STORY: Harnessing social resilience in the rust belt
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