A faith-based developer in Chicago sets the precedent for the private sector in acquiring closed public housing properties.
The transfer of "seven broken-down and boarded-up buildings from the Chicago Housing Authority to St. Edmund's Episcopal Church, 6105 S. Michigan Ave., in the Washington Park neighborhood is being hailed by housing reform advocates and city officials as an innovative strategy for revitalizing public housing in Chicago and across the nation. It is the first purchase by a private entity of federally owned CHA property....Some federal officials, however, have raised concerns about the idea, fearful of setting a precedent that opens the door to profiteering by speculators at a time when the nation's public housing stock is shrinking....The new St. Edmund's Meadows will lease one-quarter of its units back to CHA for public housing residents and divide the rest between reduced-rate and market-rate housing."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Church to make CHA sites home again

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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