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		La Salle County farmland assessment trend continues (LaSalle County, IL) Over the next two years, farmers with fertile, tillable land will see a 20% increase in the assessed value of their land. Farms sitting on poorer soils will see a 20% decrease in their assessments. My Web Times.com, June 5, 2006 When Farm Subsidies Go Bad Owners of land that was once farmed but now is developed still receive farm subsidies from the federal government, totaling in the billions of dollars. The Washington Post, June 2, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen)

	A Chill Is in the Air for Sellers As interest rates rise, sellers are lowering their prices to attract buyers. In Chicago, real estate agents say each neighborhood is different. A high-rise building boom has created a glut of condos downtown and buyers can often negotiate free parking spaces, which previously would have cost $35,000. But the pickings are so slim in the popular Lakeview area north of the central business district that an agent recently found only three listings there. New York Times, May 9, 2006 Chicago area home prices rise even as sales slip Home prices in the Chicago area kept climbing in the first quarter of 2006 even as sales volume slackened slightly for houses and condos alike, the Illinois Assn. of Realtors reported Friday. Crain’s Chicago Business, May 12, 2006 Tribe won't say if casino is in the cards (DeKalb County, IL) An American Indian tribe has paid top dollar for a DeKalb County farm, sparking speculation it wants to build a casino-resort. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 Rosemont drops casino, eyes family friendly project (Rosemont, IL) Putting aside hopes of hosting a casino, Rosemont has decided to unveil plans for a $500 million entertainment, shopping and recreation complex. Anchored by a 100,000-square-foot water park, a 22-screen movie theater complex and a luxury hotel, the goal for Rosemont Walk is to create a downtown atmosphere strongly defined by pedestrian traffic. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 Riding water park wave (Gurnee, IL) It took a special tax-incentive package to persuade "Famous" Dave Anderson (of Famous Dave's barbecue chain) to build a $125 million hotel andindoor water park complex in Gurnee rather than in Wisconsin. Ground could be broken this summer on the KeyLime Cove Resort and Water Park project. Gurnee officials landed it after offering a break on the village's hotel occupancy tax. The village normally charges a 5% occupancy tax, but KeyLime will pay only 3.5%, generating an estimated $750,000 rather than $1.5M, officials said. The tax incentive will expire in 20 years. Chicago Tribune, May 10, 2006 THE LONG, LONG COMMUTE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM When each interstate exit sign passed can mean saving ten thousand dollars in home prices, more and more people are "driving till they qualify". Welcome to the world of "extreme commuting". Newsweek, May 09 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) At Metra stop, fresh foods to spice up ride (Chicago, IL) 15,000 sq. ft. french marketplace will open at the Ogilvie center next year. Two tenants will be leasing the 43,000 sq ft space. Metra is contributing $6M and should receive $29M in rent over 29 years. Chicago Tribune, May 13, 2006 Home builders poised near Mercy Hospital (Chicago, IL) Developers broke ground Tuesday on the first of as many as 530 town homes and condominiums expected to be built near Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, accelerating the rapid development of the Near South Side. Chicago Tribune, May 17, 2006 Depot redevelopment gaining momentum (Savanna, IL) The redevelopment of the Savanna Army Depot might take off this year. It has been 11 years since the Department of Defense decided to close the base and six years since it closed. A winery is proposing to be one of the first occupants. Prairie Advocate, May 2006 Parking problems foreseen for Schaumburg convention center (Schaumburg, IL) Overflow parking and shuttle services may be used more than originally assumed. Daily Herald, May 18, 2006 New Cabrini homeowners fight to keep skyline view (Chicago, IL) The Cabrini-Green neighborhood, it seems, has arrived. Homeowners who recently bought townhouses near the soon-to-be demolished Cabrini-Green public housing high-rises plan to head to City Hall to defend their glistening view of the nearby Gold Coast skyline. More high-rises and condos are headed for the area. Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2006 Judge upholds Belcaro Park HOA decision (Denver, CO) A neighborhood homeowner's association in Denver rejected a proposal for an out-of-scale home redevelopment, and the decision was upheld by a District Court judge. The Denver Business Journal, May 3, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) A Sensory (Not Censored) Environment for the Creative Class "Examining the Seedy as Sexy: how urban grit and crime attract creative types seeking realism" Newtopia Magazine, May 2006 Ideas for pier not floating (Chicago, IL) Hotel and garages, roller coaster raise questions, criticism Chicago Tribune, June 1, 2006 Skyline for Sale Serious design can emerge from an architect's collaborations with mainstream developers. Gehry, Piano prove it. New York Times, June 4, 2006 Helping cities lure more `ruppies' Downtown living is mystery to many. So an urban planner developed a course for suburban empty nesters and retirees that not only teaches how to pick a city retirement destination, but also how to pick sensible walking shoes, the right bag for grocery shopping, how to tool around on a motor scooter, even how to hail a cab. Chicago Tribune, June 4, 2006 Fake Towns Rise, Offering Urban Life Without the Grit (Plano, TX) Mix of Office, Home and Play Threatens the Real Thing; But Where's the Grocery? New York Times, May 31, 2006 On tap in Evanston: tallest N. Shore tower (Evanston, IL) Developer Thomas Roszak is proposing a 38-story condo and hotel tower in Evanston that, if built, would be the North Shore's tallest building. The project, which would include 288 condos and 192 hotel rooms, would rise at Fountain Square between the Chase Building, now Evanston's tallest, and Sherman Plaza, a mixed-use project under construction. Mr. Roszak is in talks to buy the three buildings on the site; they would be razed to make way for the new tower. Crain's Chicago Business, June 5, 2006 Retirement choices stretch beyond Florida Today, many retirees and boomers nearing retirement are turning West, to states such as Nevada, Texas and Colorado. Some are even opting for places long known for exporting retirees, such as Michigan and Illinois. Hearld Tribune, June 11, 2006 Centegra eyes Huntley site for campus on 100 acres Centegra Heath System officials plan to build a campus on 110 acres in northern Huntley, which could eventually blossom into one of the largest hospital campuses in the Fox Valley. Daily Herald, July 8, 2006 When Farm Subsidies Go Bad Owners of land that was once farmed but now is developed still receive farm subsidies from the federal government, totaling in the billions of dollars. The Washington Post, June 2, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) Company Town, Losing a Landlord, Seeks a Mate (Scotia, CA) Perhaps the last "company town" in the US is being annexed. Time has forgotten this little town and most people are afraid of what annexation might bring. New York Times, July 6, 2006


	The Country's Largest Eminent Domain Seizure? (RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.) A small Florida town is the center of another eminent domain controversy -- one that could displace nearly 20 percent of its population. 6abc.com, April 26, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) City of Hercules Battling Wal-Mart Stores (Hercules, CA) City examines using eminent domain to obtain property that Wal-Mart owns in order to block development. Chicago Tribune, May 23, 2006 Eminent Domain Plaintiff Will Keep Her House (New London, Conn.) However, under a settlement between New London, Conn. and Susette Kelo, the structure will be moved. L.A. Times, July 1, 2006


	Illinois competes against 6 states for experimental power plant Illinois is competing against six other states in the race to land a $1 billion zero emission coal-fired power plant. Illinois is competing against 6 other states. Sites in Illinois include Mattoon, Tuscola, Marshall and Effingham. Quad-City Times, May 13, 2006 Nation's Largest Wind Farm Planned for Texas Nation's largest wind farm to be built in the Gulf of Mexico would power 125,000 homes. "Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America." Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2006 Debate Over Wind Power Creates Environmental Rift There are those fighting for renewable energy. Then there are those that are fighting to protect uniquely vulnerable areas where renewable energy could find a home. New York Times, June 6, 2006 Ethanol plant to be built in Sangamon County An ethanol plant that will produce 200 million gallons of the corn-based fuel each year will be built in southwestern Sangamon County. Johnson Grain, a local grain elevator operator, is among the investors in the project. The plant would be located at a grain shuttle site Johnson operates just east of Waverly. The plant will use 75 million to 80 million bushels of corn annually. It also is expected to provide about 75 jobs. The State Journal-Register, June 7, 2006 FOLLOW UP: Potential neighbor of ethanol plant expresses concerns State Journal-Register, July 4, 2006 FOLLOW UP: Ethanol plant’s rezoning advances State Journal-Register, July 7, 2006 Task force wants to stop CWLP's new plant Not using latest technology will cost $511 million if regulations become law, group says The State Journal-Register, May 21, 2006 Two firms plan to harvest the wind 75 wind turbines are in the future for Benton County (in northwest IN, bordering on Illinois). The County has developed a wind farm ordinance and permitting process. The Indianapolis Star, June 16, 2006


	Historians and Fans Are Racing to Catalog Homes Sold by Sears Modest Kit-Built Houses Face Threat From McMansions; Braving Snake, Poison Ivy Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) Teardowns draw attention (Kenilworth, IL) Kenilworth added to list of endangered historic communities. National Trust for Historic Preservation described the Chicago area as the "epicenter of teardowns". Chicago Tribune, May 11, 2006



	City has a deal for home buyers (Chicago, IL) The city will make $100 million in bargain-rate mortgage money available as it revives a financing program for moderate-income home buyers. Chicago Tribune, June 1, 2006 America's biggest housing bargains? Property values are declining in many smaller midwestern towns that are facing industrial decline, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Danville area. Home prices have tumbled 12% in the last year, representing the sharpest decline of any metropolitan market in the country. The median price for a house is now $52,500, the lowest in the nation. Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2006 New Campaign Shows Progress for Homeless (New York, NY) A new effort to end homelessness uses a cost-benefit approach to market the idea. Homeless are place into apartments of their own and coaxed into other services. New York Times, June 7, 2006 Governor Signs Legislation to Improve Housing Options; Metropolitan Planning Council Commends Governor for 'Real Progress' Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Comprehensive Housing Planning Act and the Business Location Efficiency Incentive Act (also known as "Location Matters") which provide a range of housing options to meet the needs of all Illinois residents. Metropolitan Planning Council, June 30, 2006 Edgy about `yuppies' (Chicago, IL) Activists work to preserve a Puerto Rican enclave in Humboldt Park as new residents move in Chicago Tribune, June 12, 2006

	A New Landfill in New Orleans Sets Off a Battle Officials have decided to dump tons of refuse from the hurricanes in man-made pits, without safeguards, at the swampy eastern edge of town called Versailles: out by the coffee-roasting plant, the space-shuttle factory and the big wildlife refuge along side the canal which flooded nearby neighborhoods during the hurricanes. More than a thousand Vietnamese-American families live less than two miles from the edge of the new landfill. New York Times, May 8, 2006 Lawsuit Is Filed to Force FEMA to Continue Housing Vouchers Lawyers for New Orleans evacuees filed suit asking a federal court to stop FEMA from ending housing benefits for people who fled Hurricane Katrina. The evacuees had been issued 12-month housing vouchers by local governments but are now being told by FEMA that they must pay rent or leave. New York Times, May 20, 2006 Clamoring to Come Home to New Orleans Projects Residents of low income housing are not waiting any longer to get back into their homes - whether standing out in front of their home or rebuilding it themselves. New York Times, June 5, 2006 Reports Reveal Hurricanes' Impact on Human Landscape Census tries to estimate population shifts as well as wealth. Stats show how the storm impacted the poor, members of minorities and renters. New York Times, June 7, 2006 5,000 Public Housing Units in New Orleans Are to Be Razed More than 5,000 public housing apartments for the poor were to be demolished and replaced by developments for residents with a wider range of incomes - avoiding the intense concentrations of poverty. New York Times, June 15, 2006 Crisis of culture in New Orleans Battered by Katrina, the cradle of America's artistic identity might never recover its vitality Chicago Tribune, July 2, 2006 APA's Response to the Devastation from Hurricane Katrina


	O'Hare expansion in holding pattern (Chicago, IL) Plan's viability, scope questioned - FAA and traffic controllers doubt plans while City officials shrug off plan's faults. Chicago Tribune, May 17, 2006 Gov OKs bill that may allow Midway takeover (Chicago, IL) Gov. Blagojevich signed off on legislation pushed by Mayor Daley that could open the door for a private takeover of Midway Airport and a potential multimillion-dollar boon for the city. Sun Times, May 10, 2006 Suburban O'Hare Commission Modernization O'Hare Gary Chicago Airport Master Plan


	Algonquin votes against Barrington Farms development (Barrington Farms, IL) Algonquin asks asking for impact fees from a development outside of village boundaries. Daily Herald, May 18, 2006


	Alert melds `Star Trek,' Stonehenge How does one say "Stay out forever"? A nuclear waste vault in New Mexico will be deadly long after our society is gone, so scientists are seeking a way to warn people 10,000 years from now of the dangers of nuclear waste. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 Report shows an increase in pollutants. (Peoria, IL) Industries in a seven-county region of central Illinois dumped 22,479 tons of pollutants into the air, land and water in 2004. Peoria Journal Star, May 1, 2006.


	Children's museum faces fight over move (Chicago, IL) Grant Park neighbors fear added traffic if Children's Museum were to move into Daley Bi-Centennial Plaza. Chicago Tribune, May 8, 2006 MODERN SUBDIVISIONS WILL LACK TALL TREES FOR 100 YEARS (Toronto, Canada) Because of the methods used to build them, modern suburbs will not have tall trees anytime soon, as described in this article focusing on Toronto. Toronto Star, May 09 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) Everyday Urbanism: Rescuing 'Orphan Spaces' (Toronto, Canada) Small efforts, rather than grand gestures, can help a community improve the city in tiny increments. Toronto Star, May 07, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) Home on the Range: A Corridor for Wildlife Researchers are trying to find ways to enable wildlife to thrive while ski slopes, gold courses, highways, and railways cut through national parks and private property. New York Times, May 23, 2006 A River Cuts a New Course, Leaving a New Hampshire Town High (EPSOM, N.H.) A river than once flowed through a town changes course - now the town is left to decide whether to move it back or leave it alone. New York Times, May 29, 2006 Water woes seen by planners Planners say northeastern Illinois is expected to grow so fast during the next two decades that finding water for everyone will be difficult. Chicago Tribune, June 4, 2006 CHICAGO'S MASTER PLAN (Chicago, IL) City peddling new proposal for 500-mile network of paths to be finished by 2015 Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2006 L.A. Garden Shut Down; 40 Arrested Protesters are forcibly taken from a community garden/farm that had flourished for years in South L.A. The owner refuses the city's $16-million offer. Los Angeles Times, June 14, 2006


	South suburbs join to make a connection , (Chicago, IL) Lobbying effort renewed for interchange where Interstate Highways 57 and 294 meet. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 Metra plans 4 new runs along route to Antioch (North Suburbs - IL) Metra has proposed running four new semi-express runs on the route to Antioch. The exact schedule needs to be worked out with Canadian National. Stations with low ridership will likely be passed by. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 THE LONG, LONG COMMUTE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM When each interstate exit sign passed can mean saving ten thousand dollars in home prices, more and more people are "driving till they qualify". Welcome to the world of "extreme commuting". Newsweek, May 09 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) PERSONAL PARKING METERS' CATCHING ON IN CITIES The "personal parking meter" may be the ultimate in convenience and ultimately, demand-based pricing for city parking. It is starting to catch on in major cities. Engadget, May 08 2006 $577 million pact OKd for 406 `L' cars (Chicago, IL) The CTA board approved a $577M contract for new rail cars in 2009. Cars will be tested for a year. New amenities include wheelchair positions, security camers, electronic maps and destionation signs. Chicago Tribune, May 11, 2006 New lights to shine in city (Elgin, IL) For more than a decade, drivers have been complaining that downtown traffic signals seem to do more to impede traffic than move it along. One Courier News columnist wrote "whoever was in charge of these lights had walked away from the Elgin Mental Health Center and was immediately hired to run the city's traffic control devices." Courier News, May 12, 2006 For Whom the Road Tolls The Governor of Indiana discusses his decision to sell the Indiana Toll Road. New York Times, May 27, 2006 CHICAGO'S MASTER PLAN (Chicago, IL) City peddling new proposal for 500-mile network of paths to be finished by 2015 Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2006


	Does Wal-Mart Increase Poverty Rates? A new study claims that Wal-Mart raises poverty rates in the counties where its stores are located. (Full access to this article is only available to subscribers, or for a fee.) Social Science Quarterly, May 17, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen) It's not all smiles for proposed Wal-Mart (Green Bay, WI) Wal-Mart wants to expand its 3-store presence within a 5 mi. radius of downtown Green Bay with a 203,800-sq. ft. Supercenter, a move some local residents oppose and some support, while the company promises officials $188,000 in annual property taxes, some $2.5 million in sales taxes and 340 new jobs. Green Bay Press-Gazette, May 12, 2006 (as posted on Smart Growth Online) City of Hercules Battling Wal-Mart Stores City examines using eminent domain to obtain property that Wal-Mart owns in order to block development. Chicago Tribune, May 23, 2006


	Impact on Violence May Differ Between Bars and Stores That Sell Alcohol, Study Shows; In Some Neighborhoods, Density of Bars Doesn't Increase Violence Stores that sell alcohol magnify violence problems in all neighborhoods where they're concentrated. The density of bars, on the other hand, intensifies violence only in communities prone to violence, while moderating violence in quieter neighborhoods, according to a new study. AScribe Newswire, May 12, 2006 L.A. Officials Rethink Measure on yard signs Judge upholds Belcaro Park HOA decision A neighborhood homeowner's association in Denver rejected a proposal for an out-of-scale home redevelopment, and the decision was upheld by a District Court judge. The Denver Business Journal, May 3, 2006 (as posted on Planetizen)


	Alert melds `Star Trek,' Stonehenge How does one say "Stay out forever"? A nuclear waste vault in New Mexico will be deadly long after our society is gone, so scientists are seeking a way to warn people 10,000 years from now of the dangers of nuclear waste. Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2006 Lawmakers secure prison funds 5 years after scheduled opening The Thompson maximum security prison will finally open. The prison had been ready to open 5 years ago but because the state legislature decided not to fund its operations it has remained closed. Prairie Advocate, May 2006 Atlanta Planners Provide Community With Unique Ways To Sound-Off On Key Development Projects In Atlanta, public comments are collected online for 3 major projects in the metro area. Planetizen, May 17, 2006 Who Should Decide Land Use? U.S. Government Already Does New York Times, May 30, 2006 CHICAGO'S MASTER PLAN (Chicago, IL) City peddling new proposal for 500-mile network of paths to be finished by 2015 Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2006 Real Chicago from the Files of the Chicago Sun-Times A pictorial history of Chicago from the 1940s to today. The Ethics Of Urban Planning: Remembering The Old AICP Code (1978-2005) As the (AICP institutes its new Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma remembers the old code and its greater capacity to inspire America's planners. Planetizen, June 28, 2006 During the next 10 years, nearly 25 billion dollars is expected to be spent on construction in Chicago—more than half in publicly funded projects alone. Will the workforce that erects the new buildings, expands convention and transportation facilities, and rebuilds expressways be composed of area residents, rather than workers from out of state? Will it reflect the city's racial, ethnic, and gender diversity? Wise TV WYCC takes on those questions in the documentary Constructing Equality: Diversifying Chicago's Building Trades, now available for viewing online.