Its history of pollution dates back to the Civil War, but 25 years after being declared a Superfund site, Woburn's Industri-plex in Massachusetts is just about cleaned up. A retail complex there has opened recently.
"To aid and protect the Industri-plex cleanup, the EPA on Jan. 13 asked the Woburn City Council to make all the site's roads public, a process the city government had already started, said Ward 5 Alderman Darlene Mercer-Bruen.
The EPA also asked Woburn to foreclose on three Industri-plex properties owned by Chestnut Hill Realty Trust. Those three parcels sit on some of the site's most contaminated land, and the sole surviving member of the trust has no interest in holding onto the property, as it has no real commercial value, LeMay said. The EPA wants a responsible property owner who will recognize the land restrictions and protect the cleanup remedy, he said.
Nearly all of the Industri-plex property has land restrictions, but the EPA has approved 10 work plans for development there. The first was the 34-acre, $10-million Anderson Regional Transportation Center, a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority hub that opened in 2001 and is named for Jimmy Anderson, a young child who died of cancer in 1981 and whose mother filed a lawsuit over the contamination."
FULL STORY: After 25 years, Superfund site cleanup nears final phase

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie