The 760-acre North Branch Industrial Corridor could be a game changer for the North Side, but the Chicago Tribune wants to make sure that quality of life is considered along visions of economic development.

The Editorial Board of the Chicago Tribune puzzles over the proposed 760-acre North Branch Industrial Corridor, "which City Hall and developers envision as home to canyons of high-rises" and the catalyst for "$4.2 billion in economic output each year, along with 23,000 jobs and up to 5,000 new residences."
The concern is what kind of impact the 50,000 people who would live and work in the North Branch Industrial Corridor would have on quality of life in this corner of the North Side.
The Editorial Board's purpose is to tout one idea for ensuring the development is a benefit to quality of life:
But a makeover of that scale cannot be all girders and plate glass. It has to include added traffic and transit capacity, and enough green space to make the revamp livable. On the former, traffic studies are in the works. On the latter, we’ve argued for an excellent option — a new park larger than most cities have the room to build.
The Editorial Board is referring specifically to an idea proposed in March, when "Ald. Michele Smith, 43rd, and Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, urged the city to consider turning a 24-acre plot of largely dormant industrial land into a sprawling riverfront park — the North Branch Park and Nature Preserve."
Despite growing political support, the Editorial Board warns that the parcel could just as easily be bought and turned into another "become yet another cluster of high-rises."
FULL STORY: Most cities couldn't build this park. Will Chicago?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont