The Michigan Department of Transportation ran into a powerful obstacle when acquiring land for a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, but a county judge sided with the state.
"Wayne County Circuit Court Chief Judge Robert Colombo Jr. advanced the effort to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge this past week when he dismissed attempts by the Moroun family's Detroit International Bridge Company to block seizure of Moroun-owned land in Detroit's Delray district," reports John Gallagher. The Moroun family owns the Ambassador Bridge, and they've tried several methods to block the planned international crossing that would compete with the Ambassador bridge.
"The Michigan Department of Transportation has been acquiring more than 600 parcels of property in the Delray district to assemble land needed for the Gordie Howe bridge project," according to Gallagher.
By "acquiring," Gallagher means seizing by power of eminent domain. The Moroun family's effort to block the use of eminent domain questions the legality of whether the state can use eminent domain to benefit the Canadian entity building the bridge—i.e., the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. The use of eminent domain has already created controversies among more communitarian interests in the neighborhood of Delray.
Read the full story: Judge tosses latest Moroun attempts to block Gordie Howe bridge
One Bridge on the Way, Another Still Possible on U.S.-Canada Border
With a request for qualifications for a new bridge, connecting Detroit with Windsor, Canada, and a proposal for another bridge on the table, it'a bridge building time on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Construction Details, Costs Emerge for Gordie Howe International Bridge
A plan to build the nation's longest cable-stayed bridge has been busy clearing benchmarks this summer.
An Appeal to Patriotism in the Hopes of Blocking a Canadian Bridge to Detroit
Border controversies now have a northern front, too.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
LA may place emergency ban on karaoke room permits
If Councilwoman Heather Hutt’s proposal passes, the moratorium would last between 45 days and one year.
City officials are dumping billions of gallons of sewage into the Chicago River
This year, the Racine Avenue sewage pumping station has poured over 10 billion gallons of sewage into the Chicago River.
Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment
The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority