Here are the most recent important changes to our website, including new articles, visitor questions, and editors' answers. You'll also find links to significantly revised pages and time-sensitive or short items we want to bring to your attention. Sometimes we also add short items of interest, especially time-sensitive notes about conferences, webinars, or seasons.
A community planning process includes data collection and analysis, generating alternatives, choosing a desired future, and writing an actionable plan.
Continue reading "Six Steps in the Community Planning Process "
Visitor Question: Is a construction business with trucks, boats, and earth moving equipment allowed in a quiet residential neighborhood? Editors Reply:
Continue reading "Construction business operating in residential area"
Neighborhood solar arrays on rooftops or underused spaces can generate hyperlocal electricity for residents, or reduce their energy bills.
Continue reading "Feel-Good Neighborhood Solar Helps Homeowners Cut Energy Bills Too"
Visitor Question: In searching for ways to improve established neighborhoods - would it be possible to call a neighborhood historic if it was only started
Continue reading "How to establish a historical designation of your neighborhood"
Visitor Question: We have a permanently closed business in our downtown whose owner refuses to sell. He is using it as an online liquidation sale location
Visitor Question: Can CDCs have a national mandate or does it have to be local? Editors Respond: We suppose this is a definitional question, but in our
Visitor Question: Is code enforcement required to provide translation of violations? Code enforcement took $470 from my friend who does not speak English
Continue reading "Is code enforcement required to provide translation"
Visitor Question: My family and I have lived in a neighborhood with no HOA in Atlanta, Georgia for 3.5 years. My husband is a truck driver and has always
Visitor Question: How long should a foundation expect to provide operating support for a new CDC? Is there research on the average number of years it takes
Continue reading "How Long a New CDC Will Need Grants for Operations"
Our definition of community development emphasizes capacity to respond to physical, social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Continue reading "Definition of Community Development and Its 19 Common Activities "
Visitor Question: Who decides what is trash (inside of a 30 gallon plastic container)? Is that the homeowner or the city code officer? Is there a code
Visitor Question: We are interested and looking into starting a CDC in our town. Do you need to register as a 501(c)3 with the IRS before starting a CDC?
This privacy policy describes ways you can control our collection or storage of your information, as well as data collected to bring your better service.
Continue reading "Privacy Policy for Useful Community Development"
Visitor Question: Hello. I live in an unincorporated city in Riverside County. I live on a property that is in probate. I took care of my landlord until
Continue reading "Can Code Enforcement make me live in a home that is a health hazard?"
Subscribe to our monthly e-mail newsletter, called USEFUL COMMUNITY PLUS, which provides you with short features or tips about timely topics for neighborhoods, towns and cities, community organizations, rural environments, and our international friends. Unsubscribe any time. Give it a try.