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

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Streetcar and bus stopped at station on Market Street in San Francisco with Ferry Building visible in background.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street

If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

1 hour ago - San Francisco Examiner

Parklet with wooden benches and flower boxes on street in Ireland.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces

Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Bronze statue of homeless man (Jesus) with head down and arm outstretched in front of St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington D.C.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.

3 hours ago - The New York Times