A plan to underground the central train station of Stuttgart and create a new city neighborhood above it is so controversial that violent protests have broken out.
Water cannons and pepper spray were used to subdue crowds protesting the railway project, known as Stuttgart 21. A mediator has been brought in to try to work it out with both sides, but compromise looks impossible, says Charles Hawley in Speigel:
"Critics have focused on the exorbitant price tag and say the costs far outweigh the marginal benefits the project will have for Germany's rail transport system. In addition, many have mourned the loss of the historically protected main station and the hundreds of trees which are being felled to make way for the project."
Speigel also features a video profiling the project.
Read the full story: In Stuttgart, 'No Compromise Is Possible'
More Diesel Driving Bans Coming to German Cities
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German Cities to Breathe Easier After Court Ruling on Diesel Car Bans
Unlike banning sales of new internal combustion vehicles at a future date, the German court ruling applies to the operation of older, diesel-powered cars in the country's most polluted cities. It's up to the cities, though, to enact the bans.
Why it Matters When Protesters Shut Down Highways
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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
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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.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
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