The Spanish housing market is under threat from a growing number of accusations that local town councils are abusing their power to claim land for public developments -- and dedicating land to resort communities and golf courses.
"The land claims are part of a web of questionable real-estate transactions, including projects completed with illegal building permits or no permission at all. Altogether, 102 cases of urban corruption have been opened in Spain, according to Greenpeace International, which is campaigning against damage to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines."
"On April 11, the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions issued a report detailing a laundry list of concerns uncovered during a trip to Valencia, Andalusia and Madrid. They range from the limited public interest of some developments and arbitrary costs for infrastructure to a lack of recourse for property owners and destruction of national parks, according to the report."
" 'Town councils have concocted urban development plans less because of their real requirements related to population growth and tourism, and more because of what often appears as their greed and avarice,' the committee said. Victims of the land grab law, including Spaniards and foreigners, number in the 'tens of thousands,' it said."
FULL STORY: Spanish Land Grab Threatens to Undermine Second-Home Gold Rush
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