North Carolina

Post-Helene Reflections on Solastalgia and Community
Solastalgia is an increasingly relevant word that refers to the homesickness one feels when still at home, caused by distress due to environmental change in one’s home environment – for example, after a hurricane or wildfire.

Looking Beyond FEMA Flood Maps, Cities Raise the Bar for Buildings in Floodplains
Cities across the country are developing floodplain construction standards that are more stringent than those required by FEMA.

Duke Faculty Support N.C. Rail Project; University Opposes It
Duke University will not sign an agreement for a regional rail project that has widespread support from the campus community.

Cities Positioning for an Expanding Venture Capital Market
Cities outside of the big coastal tech hubs have characteristics well suited for the high-tech sector.

‘Nudging’ Durham Commuters Toward More Sustainable Modes of Travel
Behavioral science is informing the city’s efforts to change the way people commute.

For Many Charlotte Residents, Affordable Housing Still Isn’t Affordable
Over the last decade and a half, the city has put millions of dollars into affordable housing. But the help is not reaching Charlotte’s neediest residents.

In Sprawling Charlotte, Traffic Jams Point to Climate Solutions
A look at the relationship between sprawl and climate change mitigation in the fast-growing North Carolina city.

The Cities Best Positioned for Growth Based on the Right Mix of Jobs
Having the right mix of jobs in a local economy might be a predictor for future growth.
First Wind Energy Farm Blows Into the Southeast
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, will host a 204-megawatt wind energy facility—the first in a region known for steady coastal breezes. The project is a collaboration of European-based Iberdrola Renewables, LLC, and Seattle-based Amazon.

North Carolina County Reluctantly Accepts Toxic Coal Ash Stockpile for $19 Million
Chatham County, North Carolina agreed to not oppose a planned coal ash landfill in exchange for $19 Million from Duke Energy, which would help fund environmental monitoring and disaster insurance.

North Carolina Planners: Where to Build Light Rail (and Should it Be Built)?
This week residents in the North Carolina Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) will provide input on key segments of a future regional light rail system. The project has been analyzed for 15 years, yet the question of whether to build it remains.

Southern Fried Urbanism
You do not hear much talk about meaningful urbanism in the Southeast U.S. Until political winds shift, don't expect that to change.
To Fund New Plan, Voters Willing To Pay Higher Taxes
A passing of a a half-cent sales tax increase dedicated to transit in Durham County shows that voters are willing to invest for new public transportation options. This is the first step towards upgrading North Carolina's mass transit system.
Appalachia Creates a 'Suitability Map' to Entice Responsible Development
A key idea of western North Carolina's Mountain Landscapes Initiative is to create a map of land already in conservation, layered with land that should be preserved, so that developers, builders, and residents together can plan responsibly.
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