A city-county land swap will allow Dan Gilbert to reimagine a former jail, plus build an entirely new one.
The "most imprisoned nation in the world," the U.S. has more than 5,000 jails and prisons nationwide. One of the most recent, Detroit Free Press reports, is a $520.3 million jail complex moving ahead in Wayne County. Detroit City Council approved a deal crucial to the development this week after a county judge denied a lawsuit seeking to block the project.
The development by Rock Ventures—the company owned by billionaire Dan Gilbert—relies on a land swap between Detroit and Wayne County that gives the city the former American Motors headquarters in exchange for an 11-acre site for the new jail. (That agreement still has to be inked by the county.) As part of the deal, Rock Ventures would also be able to redevelop the site of the existing, unfinished Wayne County jail project with a $1 billion commercial project.
The new jail site isn't zoned for institutional living, according to the lawsuit, which claimed the proposal ignored city zoning and land-use ordinances and dodged required studies on traffic impacts and historic preservation.
FULL STORY: Judge halts lawsuit seeking to block land swap deal to build Wayne Co. jail

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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