Detroit
When the Dust Settles: Removing Blight, But Spreading Toxins
Data regarding ongoing demolitions of blighted properties in cities across the U.S. has turned up some unexpected consequences: the spread of lead toxins into the surrounding community.
Detroit Completes Citywide Property Tax Reappraisal
It's counterintuitive, but in Detroit, the hope is that by lowering property taxes, the city might actually collect more in property taxes.
Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures
About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.
Feds End Financial Restrictions on Detroit's Bus System
The Federal Transit Authority is calling the Detroit Department of Transportation in from the cold.
Holiday Cheer from Detroit: Downtown Office Vacancies Have Rebounded in a Big Way
A new report on office vacancies in Downtown Detroit shows just how far Downtown Detroit has come in ten years.
A Culture Change Takes Hold at the Detroit Planning Department
For all its troubles, Detroit has undertaken some of the greatest urban success stories of recent years. New leadership at the city's Planning Department is hoping to expand those narratives to long-neglected parts of the city.
Metro Detroit's Millage Tax Comes Within Half a Percentage Point of Passing
A $4.6 billion transit plan proposed by the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan received 49.5 percent of the vote on November 8. The millage tax would have funded bus rapid transit and regional rail within a four-county region.
Detroit's Failed Regional Transit Plan Strikes a Blow to the City's Revival
Voters in the Detroit region had a chance to reverse 40 years of neglect for regional transit. Instead, they kicked the can down the road.
Building Tiny Homes for Detroit's Homeless
Detroit plans to build 300 tiny homes on empty lots to help shelter the city's homeless.
Detroit Ballot Measure Puts Regional Transit in Reach
Involving four counties and $4.6 billion, the measure proposes a system that could put a million residents (and a million jobs) within a quarter mile of transit.
The Dangers of Demolition for Its Own Sake
Jason Hackworth argues that demolition has come to be seen as a good, in and of itself, in rust belt cities like Detroit; giving rise to policies that are wrong-headed and dangerous.
Tearing Down Detroit to Build It Back Up
Detroit continues tear down empty housing in its farther afield neighborhoods, even as its downtown enjoys a spate of new construction.
Geographers Seek Patterns and Solutions to Help Declining American Cities
Geographers publish results of a two-year study on declining cities around the country in a new book, "Shrinking Cities: Understanding Urban Decline in the United States."
How Detroit Beat the Silicon Valley to the Breakthrough Electric Vehicle
It costs less than $40,000 and gets over 200 miles to a charge. The Tesla Model 3? Yes, and also the Chevy Bolt, which goes to market first. A New York Times technology columnist writes that 'size matters' when it comes to innovation.
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.
Detroit to Expand Bus Service
Good news for transit riders in Detroit—new buses and 24-hour routes are coming soon.
Local Leadership and Civic Networks: What History Can Tell Us About Urban Success
The next time a city or community is struggling, rather than looking only to macroeconomic forces or national policymakers for reasons, we should equally examine the strength of local leadership and the texture of their networks.
This November, Four Major Transportation Measures at Stake
If you live in Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you have more to look forward to in November than choosing Donald or Hillary. Major decisions concerning regional transportation are on the line.
Detroit to Explore 'Pink Zoning' to Reduce Red Tape
Detroit is looking for ideas to make it easier to revitalize neighborhood main streets.
Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Plan Back From the Dead
The board of the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority found a compromise and managed to get a regional transit plan onto the ballot for voters to consider in November.
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
