The strange-but-true idea for "Breakwater Chicago" has two things going for it so far—attention from the press and $38,180 in Kickstarter funding.
"The crowdfunding campaign spearheaded by Plainfield native Beau D’Arcy to raise money for his multimillion-dollar project, Breakwater Chicago, reached its goal of $30,000 within about 36 hours last week, D'Arcy said. By Tuesday night, the campaign had received well over its goal with $38,180 pledged on Kickstarter," reports Michelle Manchir.
"D'Arcy's plan includes a floating 300-foot vessel with sun decks, restaurants, a swimming pool and room for boats to dock. He told the Tribune last week he sees the project potentially being Chicago's' 'next Bean,' a reference to Millennium Park's popular Cloud Gate sculpture."
The final estimated cost of the proposal could be around $23 million, but the larger challenge might be winning the approval of regulators. According to the earlier report by Mitch Smith, "[in] addition to lots of cash, D’Arcy’s ambition will need the blessing of more than a few regulators. The facility, which he said be anchored about a mile from the shore during the summer and towed to the beach in the winter, will need permits from the Coast Guard, state and city."
FULL STORY: Crowdfunding for proposed Breakwater Chicago complex exceeds goal

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.

A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.

Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.