A back door plan to use eminent domain to provide additional parking for a main street shopping district creates outrage in a Chicago area community.
"Plans to buy several Forest Park, Ill. homes and businesses to expand two parking lots were put on hold this week when more than 100 residents protested the idea.
The village's main commercial district along Madison Street has transformed into a dining and shopping destination with new stores, restaurants and condominiums in recent years. With that success, parking has become premium commodity, especially in the evenings, said Joellen Charlton, a consultant hired to study the problem.
In a closed meeting in September, the Village Board decided to build surface lots rather than a parking deck because of the cost. In that meeting commissioners also discussed the need for acquiring properties for additional parking.
But when the agenda for the Nov. 13 board meeting came out, residents and some commissioners were shocked to see mention of the possible use of eminent domain to acquire those properties."
FULL STORY: Forest Park backs off idea of taking homes for parking
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.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie