Community / Economic Development

Vacant boarded-up storefronts along Powell Street in San Francisco, California.

Planning Year in Review 2022: Downtowns, Transportation, Climate Change

Part two of a review of the major themes, debates, and events of the year in planning that was 2022.

December 19, 2022 - James Brasuell

Dirt lot with construction cranes and parked cars with downtown Houston skyline in background

Gentrification in Houston’s Rapidly Changing East End

Two approaches to redevelopment reveal the nuances of gentrification and neighborhood change.

December 15, 2022 - Next City

Boarded-up facade of vacant brick building in CIncinnati, Ohio

Ohio to Demolish Thousands of Vacant Buildings

The state is funding a $150 million effort to raze blighted buildings to accelerate revitalization.

December 13, 2022 - The Center Square

Detroit, Michigan

Placemaking Redefined by a New Era of Federal Investment

Six tips for ensuring that new placed-based funding programs, such as the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, achieve the full potential of a new era of place-based federal investment.

December 12, 2022 - Brookings

Rendering of Juneteenth Museum

The Best, Worst, and Most Questionable in 2022 Architecture and Design

A list of innovative projects, intriguing design, and flummoxing failures.

December 6, 2022 - Medium

Empty New York City street during the COVID-19 pandemic with #NYSTRONG billboard in foreground.

From ‘Urban Exodus’ to ‘Urban Doom Loop’

The initial shocks of the Covid 19 pandemic have become more persistent, and it’s time to start wondering what comes next for the communities on either side of the changes.

December 4, 2022 - The New York Times

Subway Homeless

‘Housing First’ Pilot Launched in New York City

The city has started small with a “Housing First” approach to homelessness—moving 80 people experiencing homelessness into supportive housing in recent months.

November 30, 2022 - City Limits

Dayton, Ohio

As Remote Work Persists, Ohio Cities Brace for Tax Revenue Losses

Cities like Dayton expect to see a reduction in income tax revenue as more remote workers begin paying taxes to their home jurisdictions.

November 29, 2022 - Dayton Daily News

Two-lane street in Detroit's Greektown with American and Greek flags strung across the street

Detroit To Build New Parking for Small Businesses

The city will invest $9 million in an initiative to build customer parking on city-owned lots to boost economic development.

November 29, 2022 - Bridge Detroit

An electric vehicle charger with an American flag sticker is shown plugged into a car.

Electric Vehicles Require Real Progress—Not Lip Service—on Equity

Communities of color are already being left behind as the nation prepares the infrastructure for an electric future.

November 28, 2022 - Marqus Cole

Two bridges cross the Mississippi Rivera midst thick vegetation and few other signs of human intervention.

$323 Million Waterfront Project Cruising Along in St. Louis

Lighthouse Point, a $323 million marina and waterfront development proposed for the banks of the Mississippi River, has already been granted a special district, tax abatements, and sales tax exemptions.

November 23, 2022 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Under Armour Clothing Global Headquarters

Developers Rebrand Baltimore’s Port Covington Megaproject

The megaproject formerly known as Port Covington is now known as Baltimore Peninsula.

November 23, 2022 - The Baltimore Banner

The former parking of Woodies restaurant is filled with empty picnic tables for dining during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Outdoor Dining Parklets No Longer Cheap and Easy

Cities in Santa Cruz County, California are making outdoor dining laws permanent, and some businesses are getting sticker shock at the extra cost of maintaining the pandemic-era expansion of al fresco dining.

November 21, 2022 - Lookout Santa Cruz

California Shelter-in-Place

Office Vacancies Could Cost San Francisco $200 Million by 2028

The fiscal toll of the pandemic is only beginning to reveal itself. The challenges presented to growing office vacancy rates are not unique to San Francisco.

November 20, 2022 - Bloomberg

The sign for a WeWork office appears at the exterior of a brick high-rise in a dense downtown.

Seeking a Post-Pandemic Comeback, WeWork to Close More Offices

WeWork isn’t dead yet, hoping to ride post-pandemic interest in flexible workspace to a comeback story for the ages. There are still cuts to be made, however.

November 14, 2022 - CoStar News

Pharmacy

Chain Drugstores Are Closing, But Not Because of Shoplifting

Massive chain drug stores have become integral members of the urban fabric, for better or worse, but widespread store closures and security practices have come to symbolize urban decline. The dynamic must be monitored.

November 10, 2022 - Slate

Bunker Hill, Charlestown

Tracking Boston’s Emissions Reduction Progress

The Boston Foundation published the “Inaugural Boston Climate Progress Report” earlier this month. Other U.S. cities should follow their lead.

November 10, 2022 - The Boston Foundation

Brick storefronts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Land Trusts Put Commercial Real Estate in Community Hands

A growing movement to create community-owned commercial spaces could shift power away from institutional landlords.

November 9, 2022 - Next City

U.S. Capital

No Bragging Rights for Passing the Infrastructure Act?

You'd think the passage of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure act would convey bragging rights for Democratic congress members facing competitive midterm elections today. Ironically, Republicans who opposed the bill are taking credit.

November 8, 2022 - Politico

A picture of a decorative sign announcing “The Domain” surrounded by high density shops and apartments.

New Building Heights Approved for Austin

A zoning change has increase height limits from 308 feet to 420 feet for new buildings near the city’s MLS stadium.

November 7, 2022 - Austin Monitor

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.