The mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, hopes to lure biomedical researchers and facilities to a proposed biomedical district in his city's downtown. And he's willing to do a lot to see his vision through.
"An expanded biomedical district would offer the opportunity for critical mass, which could help in recruiting companies and research groups to downtown."
"But the proposal faces significant challenges, too."
"First, it's long on vision but short on details for implementation. There are no cost estimates or financing. And there are indications that Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, which operates Maricopa Medical Center, one of the two hospital groups vying for the UA College of Medicine partnership, is leery about it."
"The mayor has said that he would be willing to explore using any tools available to the city, including eminent domain and tax credits, to help lure researchers, physicians and others to the area."
"Certain government grants could even be used to improve streets or to set up a rubberized trolley system that would take people from one end of the district to the other."
Read the full story: Gordon proposes medical district
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.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
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
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority