Community planning alternatives for unpromising times

Community Urban Planning in a Time of Crisis

Around the world, cities are under pressure for community planning. Climate change, inequality, and economic instability are reshaping urban life. Yet even in the face of adversity, communities continue to create bold and meaningful alternatives. They aren’t waiting. They’re acting now.

A standout feature from Planning Theory and Practice, titled “Finding Hope in Unpromising Times,” shows just how powerful local action can be. It highlights planning efforts that don’t rely on government mandates or private sector leadership. Instead, they reflect something more human—and more hopeful.

Community Planning Pushes Back Against Broken Systems

Many governments still cling to top-down planning. At the same time, the private sector often prioritizes return on investment over community need. However, people are pushing back.

From East Jerusalem to Glasgow, planners and residents are building something new. They’re reclaiming power and place—sometimes block by block. While their tactics vary, their goal is shared: to reshape space with fairness, function, and sustainability.

Spain Turns Empty Space into Shared Space

Across Spain, residents are transforming abandoned lots into vibrant public areas. Rather than waiting for formal redevelopment, they’re using what’s available now. They clean up trash, plant gardens, and create places to gather. These grassroots projects show how neglected areas can become vital again.

Moreover, these spaces reflect local values. People design them to meet real needs—not abstract goals. This makes them more inclusive and often more resilient.

East Jerusalem Residents Fight for Land Rights

In East Jerusalem, planning becomes survival. As residents navigate contested borders and legal ambiguity, they use informal strategies to assert their rights. Families work together to build and maintain homes—even under threat of demolition.

They adapt quickly. They organize documentation, coordinate infrastructure, and advocate for recognition. These efforts are quiet but powerful. They show how planning can resist political pressure while still creating stability.

Australians Monitor Development and Demand Accountability

In Sydney, grassroots group REDWatch keeps a watchful eye on redevelopment plans. They publish reports, organize meetings, and pressure developers to follow fair processes. Most importantly, they demand transparency.

Because of their work, residents are no longer bystanders. They actively shape the conversation and force decision-makers to listen. This type of organized resistance proves that accountability can emerge from the community level.

In Glasgow, Walking Becomes a Planning Tool

Sometimes, the act of walking sparks change. In Glasgow, residents use “neighborhood inquiry” walks to observe, discuss, and reimagine their streets. While this method sounds simple, it creates profound awareness.

As people walk together, they share memories and point out pain points. Then, they propose real fixes. This approach makes planning participatory, visible, and rooted in lived experience. Because people know their neighborhoods best, they help planners get it right.

New Models of Public Ownership Gain Ground

Amid calls to privatize everything, some communities are taking a different route. They’re reviving public ownership—not as nostalgia, but as a new way forward.

From energy to transportation, these communities want control. They believe services should benefit people, not just shareholders. This return to public values could help cities become more equitable, especially in underserved areas.

Lessons for Planners and Policymakers

Each story offers a clear takeaway: real change starts at the local level. Communities know what they need. When given the tools—or when they create them—they deliver results. While institutional change remains important, grassroots initiatives often move faster and respond better.

Planners and policymakers must listen, support, and learn. When they do, they don’t just improve processes—they empower people. And that’s how sustainable systems take root.

Hope Isn’t Passive. It’s Planned.

These aren’t isolated case studies. They are signals. They show us that better planning is already underway, despite the odds. And they remind us that even during turbulent times, vision and action can still align.

The future won’t be handed to us. But as these stories show, we can build it—one community at a time.

By Seth Leitman | June 2025

Read the full piece in Planning Theory and Practice:

“Finding Hope in Unpromising Times”