Akron

The Crucial Role of Suburban Voters in the Midterms
Suburban voters were instrumental in preventing a 'red wave' on Election Day and on December 6 in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff election, enabling the Democrats to win a 51st Senate seat.

Ohio Plans for $1.3 Billion Federal Transit Investment
Ohio lawmakers say new federal funding will help the state improve public transit systems, hire more operators, and make badly needed facility and equipment upgrades.

Building on Recent Planning Success in Akron
Following the success of Planning to Grow Akron, spurring the development of thousands of housing units in the previously stagnant city, Planning to Grow Akron 2.0 will leverage federal stimulus funds to further stabilize the city's housing market.

Local Opposition to Ohio DOT's I-77 Widening Plans Near Akron
The Ohio Department of Transportation wants to add lanes to Interstate 77 outside Akron to reduce congestion. Some local officials think the project will connect the region to the East Coast; others think the money would be better spent locally.

Opinion: The Zoning Reform Discourse Needs a Dose of Reality
Lately it seems like people are forgetting that zoning is a legal process, requiring the support of elected officials.

Reimagining the Social Value of Public Spaces
While they're often treated as mere assets to be maintained or abandoned for other uses, public spaces can be an active part of cities' plans for equitable revitalization.

Report: Cleveland and Akron Showing Strength in the Heartland
While much of the news focuses on declining population and vacant homes, Cleveland and Akron have quietly outperformed many other cities on quality of life.

Optimism and Investment, Not 'Managed Decline," for the Rust Belt
Managed decline assumes that struggling cities will continue to struggle indefinitely. Is there a better way to plot neighborhood stabilization?
Better Block Earns Rave Reviews in Akron
A Better Block installation took over the streets of Kenmoore in Akron, Ohio last weekend.

A New Housing Strategy for Akron, Ohio
The city of Akron has lost 93,000 residents since 1960, so it has room to grow. Now it has a draft housing plan that uses a tax abatement program modeled on examples in Cleveland and Cuyahoga Falls.
Better Block Project Celebrates Diversity in Akron
The Exchange House will open in February, offering a hostel and much more for the immigrant communities of Akron's North Hill neighborhood.

The Vision for a Revitalized Downtown in Akron, Ohio
It's been a busy year for planners in Akron, Ohio. The most recent accomplishment is the completion of phase 1 of the Downtown Vision and Redevelopment Plan.

Akron Considering the End of Parking Minimums as a Downtown Development Incentive
The Akron City Council will this week decide on legislation that could at it to the roster of cities that have reformed parking requirements.

Rebuilding Civic Spaces: Going Small To Get Big Results
A $40 million investment is being split between four cities—Memphis, Chicago, Akron, and Detroit—with the hopes of making big impacts for the community by revitalizing and/or repurposing exiting civic spaces.

Akron Putting Finishing Touches on Bus System Overhaul
Akron Metro RTA recently announced the details of an overhaul of its bus system—the reorganization will affect every one of the system's 36 fixed bus routes.

The Plan to Bring 50,000 People Back to Akron, Ohio
Down to a population of 197,859 from its 1960 peak of 290,351, the city of Akron is looking for a way to bring people back to its community. One thing Akron has going for it already: an enthusiastic champion of the cause.
Road Diet Scheduled for Two of Akron's Most Dangerous Streets
Two streets in Akron, one-way and four or five lanes across, have become too much of a safety hazard, and city officials are ready to make a change.

Life, Death, and Repurposing of the Great American Mall
A PBS Newshour economic correspondent visits the sites of former malls in Ohio and Massachusetts, some successfully repurposed, others in construction, and one in decay, speaking with economic experts along the way about the future of the mall.
Art Competition Brings Urban Vitality and Civic Pride
Mark Stryker writes on Grand Rapids' ArtPrize, a citywide art competition that awards prize money based on public vote, and has been a boon to artists and the local economy. It is now inspiring other cities to host their own such events.
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