As a nascent tech economy tests the waters, Reno's Vice Mayor spearheads an effort to equitably clear out blight and revisit the purpose of the city's downtown.
Reno may be on the verge of pushing beyond its "little Vegas" status, and city officials have recognized a new imperative: dealing with abandoned and blighted properties. Big tech firms have shown an interest in the area, and Reno seems eager to accommodate them.
Oscar Perry Abello writes, "Apple started a wave, moving in with a data center just outside Reno in 2012, part of its own plan to spend a billion dollars around Reno in the following decade. [...] Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, is building a $5 billion 'gigafactory' in the area."
Reno Vice Mayor Oscar Delgado, quoted heavily in the article, will work with landlords to ready properties for future investment. Said Delgado, "Our hope is once these properties have been cleared, we can get investors to meet with property owners and get some of these projects kicked off." He stresses efforts to bring under-engaged groups into the process.
Another important angle is redefining downtown Reno away from its gaming roots so it can also serve residents. "'Our downtown was really developed for tourists,' Delgado admits. 'Now we're saying, what are some broader uses?'"
FULL STORY: Reno Reinvention Puts a Target on Blight
Downtown Reno: A Place Where Nobody Dared to Go
Residents of Reno, Nevada participating in a rewrite of the city’s master plan have spoken out about the myriad of problems afflicting their downtown—it's dirty, dangerous, and deserted.
From Vacant Property to Affordable Housing Development
The city of St. Petersburg provides a model for transforming blight to a blessing.
Apple Is Going Suburban Rather Than Urban in Austin
Apple has plans to build a new campus and expand its Texas workforce. The decision to expand to an Austin suburb points to both regional and national trends and outcomes.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
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.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service