A new indoor vertical farming venture in Chicago seeks to change agricultural production by harnessing technology.

"Growing produce in controlled environments, including greenhouses and indoor vertical farms, has gained steam as a sustainable solution to the food needs of a growing population because it uses less land and far less water than traditional farming and can be done year-round near cities, reducing the distance the food travels," writes Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz.
Chicago’s Backyard Fresh Farm is an indoor vertical farm that is trying to tackle the many challenges that have hindered similar agricultural operations in the past. Cameras, artificial intelligence software, and robots have significantly reduced labor and energy costs and resulted in competitively priced, high-quality produce outputs.
"[Jake] Counne is in discussions with landlords in Chicago and Calumet City, where he hopes to lease 35,000 square feet in which he says could yield 600,000 pounds of produce a year, in towers stacked 21 feet high, with only six laborers. His long-term vision is to open 100,000-square-foot facilities near major metropolitan areas around the country, each with capacity to grow 6 million pounds," reports Elejalde-Ruiz.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

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

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

Trump's “Able Bodied” Public Housing Limits Could Displace Over 300,000 New Yorkers
As part of 43% cut to federal rental assistance, Trump is proposing a two-year limit on public housing tenure for “able bodied adults.”

Nine Ways to Use Curb Space That Aren’t Parking
California’s new daylighting law bans parking within 20 feet of crosswalks. How can cities best use this space?
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