Planetizen Week in Review: June 24, 2016

The biggest news stories of a big week in planning and land use—all in just over two minutes.

1 minute read

June 24, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Portland

JPL Designs / Shutterstock

The fifth edition of the Planetizen Week in Review includes some of the biggest breaking news stories of the year.

Comprehensive plans are always a big deal for cities and the planning profession, but especially so in the city of Portland. The city of Columbus pulled a "smart cities" coup and beat out cities like Austin and San Francisco for a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. A game changing decision for Waukesha, Wisconsin changes the regulatory landscape established by the 2008 Great Lakes Compact. And finally, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University released a report titled "The State of the Nation's Housing," and didn't include very much good news for anyone who isn't already a homeowner.

Portland Approves New Comprehensive Plan
Milwaukee Suburb Allowed Unprecedented Water Diversion from Lake Michigan
Breaking: Columbus Wins $50 Million 'Smart Cities Challenge' Grant
Housing Market 2016 in a Best of Times, Worst of Times Moment 

Thursday, June 23, 2016 in Planetizen

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

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A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

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.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nithya Ramen talks to an older man. She is smiling and wearing a yellow dress. They are both outside.

Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor

Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.

4 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

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A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

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