A private foundation is buying up prime downtown real estate Portland, OR, and will donate it to the city for use as parks. But preservationists worry the gift will destroy historic buildings.
"Retailers in the area worry about their future and preservationists fret about the potential loss of historic buildings.City government is caught in the middle. Political leaders aren't sure whether they want to accept a gift that could end up costing big money for park development and maintenance and that perhaps might harm rather than help downtown...The costly maneuvering in the midtown blocks could profoundly affect the future of the entire downtown, particularly its fragile retail sector."
Thanks to Nathan Banks
FULL STORY: 'Free' Parks Come with Price Tag of Uncertainty

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

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

Cincinnati School District Shifts Students to Public Transit to Cut Costs
Over 10,000 Cincinnati Public Schools students already use public buses for school transportation each year.

Raleigh Pilots App-Based Feedback Program for Accessible Parking
The city is using the program to collect real-time information about accessibility issues and correct them quickly.

Texas Safety Advocates Raise Alarm in Advance of Tesla Robotaxi Launch
The company plans to deploy self-driving taxis in Austin with no oversight from state or local transportation agencies.
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