• How cities and towns can bounce back in the post-pandemic era

    A toolkit highlights the power of land-use and transportation policy in recovery from the devastating impacts of COVID.
    Now that vaccines are rolling out and new COVID cases are dropping in the US and worldwide, cities can begin to get a clearer view of what their world will look like in the post-pandemic era. To prepare for what is next, a great place to start is the Pandemic Toolkit , created by the new urbanist...Read more

  • What will Biden do for urbanism?

    The Biden plan mentions code reform, transit, smart growth, underserved communities, and generally big investments in affordable housing.
    Barring some highly unlikely turn of events, Joe Biden will become president in January. The question for many planners and urban designers: What will the new administration mean for urbanism? Cities will be facing many challenges in 2021. When the dust settles on the pandemic, we don’t know what...Read more

  • As we re-envision our cities, local governments take center stage

    Cities respond to the public health crisis through unprecedented immediate action; New priorities are balanced against the ongoing requirements of creating livable and sustainable communities for all citizens.
    Since long before the current crisis, local governments have been leaders in implementing concepts that New Urbanists value: complete walkable and livable neighborhoods with ample and inclusive public spaces and community institutions for gathering, working, recreating, and socializing. Over the...Read more

  • From extractive investment to community wealth

    There's another side to Opportunity Zones: They could be a catalyst for an emerging system of building community wealth that is bottom-up and local—focusing on the "whole neighborhood."
    Above the fold in Sunday’s The New York Times was a blistering piece on Opportunity Zones: “How a Trump Tax Break to Help Poor Communities Became a Windfall for the Rich.” The article is grounded in evidence and a depressing account of parasitic capitalism that generates wealth for just a few...Read more