Georgia
Outsourcing City Hall
Four unincorporated communities in Atlanta have become new cities...and outsourced neary all government services to private corporations.
More Land Secured For Atlanta Beltline Project
The City of Atlanta and a group of investors have purchased another plot of land for the city's Beltline project -- a loop of open spaces, rail lines, and housing and retail developments. This is the first plot purchased in more than a year.
Learning Architecture And Planning In The Land Of Suburbia
Ellen Dunham-Jones, director of the architecture program at Georgia Tech, thinks architects and planners need to understand suburbia better before they can begin the work of retrofitting our sprawling development patterns towards smart growth.
Georgia Hill Country A Case Study For Stopping Sprawl
Planners and environmentalists are hopefully that the use of transfer development rights (TDR) in the Chattahoochee Hill Country south of Atlanta can serve as a model for land conservation efforts nationwide.
Atlanta Foreclosures Provide An Affordable Housing Opportunity
An Atlanta city councilwoman is trying to launch an affordable-housing program based on leveraging homes abandoned due to the mortgage-lending crisis.
Landscaping For Transit Stations
In Atlanta, one gardening enthusiast has taken on the challenge of improving MARTA stations using his green thumb.
Tax Breaks For Developers May Leave Parks Dry
Tax incentives of nearly $10 million have been approved for hotel and condo development on one of Georgia's struggling state parks, but some worry that providing tax breaks leaves little or no money left for park maintenance and improvements.
Warning: This Commute May Be Hazardous To Your Health
Metro Atlanta ranks highly in many "best places" lists. But there's one ranking the region is not proud of -- it has the second least healthy commute in the nation.
Car-Sharing Growing In Atlanta
Despite doomsayers' claims that low-density Atlanta would never take to car sharing, Flexcar, the largest car sharing company in the U.S., is expanding its presence in the city.
Atlanta Seeks To Regulate McMansions
The city council is considering new rules to prevent oversized homes on small lots, but some residents in older areas of the city are worried that the new regulations will stall redevelopment.
Atlanta Transit Agency To Undertake Comprehensive Review
Having gone 25 years without a comprehensive review of all routes and operations, officials at MARTA -- metro Atlanta's transit system -- have decided that the time is finally right for an overhaul.
Atlanta Swelling With Coastal Florida Expatriates
Fear of hurricanes, high housing costs, and prohibitive insurance premiums are driving coastal Florida residents north to Atlanta. Real estate agents and developers are happy, but the region is already strained by growth.
Outsourcing Local Government?
Sandy Springs, Georgia, with 80,000 residents, has apparently successfully outsourced all government functions, except for police and fire services.
Transportation Costs Undermine Atlanta's 'Affordable' Label
Metro Atlanta ranked as the second costliest area to live in the U.S. for working families after the region's sky-high transportation costs were considered along with housing costs.
Atlanta's Murder Rate Spikes By 22 Percent
Assaults and property crimes are also up in 2006, according to recently released FBI data. City officials are hoping the increase is a one-time occurrence, and not a trend that could endanger its ongoing urban revitalization efforts.
Revitalizing Atlanta's Cradle of Civil Rights
A joint venture between a prominent African-American church and a private developer is trying to breath new life into Atlanta's Auburn Avenue.
Using Congestion To Get People Out Of Their Cars
While many smart growth advocates embrace the idea of allowing congestion to worsen to encourage the public to drive less, a recent opinion column argues the strategy can only work if good alternatives to driving exist.
Commuter Rail Stymied In Atlanta
Transportation Secretary Peters and the head of Georgia's Dept. of Transportation chatted about grandchildren during a recent visit, but forgot to discuss the region's stalled commuter rail project.
Vancouver To Atlanta: 'Congestion Is Our Friend'
In their annual trip to cities that work better than theirs does, Atlanta leaders visit Vancouver to see first-hand the benefits of density, transit and regional planning.
Hope VI Leads To Revitalization Of Atlanta School
Though not mentioned in this article, a Hope VI-funded revitalization of Atlanta's Carver Homes housing project led to the development of a school which is now being considered as a city-wide model.
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
