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Fort Smith Group to Petition for Sunday Off-Premises Alcohol Sales Ballot Initiative

Fort Smith Group to Petition for Sunday Off-Premises Alcohol Sales Ballot Initiative

A local group in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is planning to gather signatures to place a measure on a future ballot that would allow for the Sunday sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption. This initiative follows recent discussions during a Fort Smith Board of Directors study session, where City Administrator Jeff Dingman confirmed that state law mandates a citizen-petitioned measure for such a change. The petition requires signatures from 15% of qualified electors in the city who voted in the last gubernatorial election. Currently, this number is 3,120 signatures, though it will change after the upcoming November election. City staff have indicated that it is too late for this measure to be included in the general election this November. Rhyan Besco, founder of The Riverboy Foundation, stated his group has already collected over 1,000 signatures during a St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl in March, kick-starting the conversation.
Palm Beach PostPalm Beach Post
West Palm’s future requires both listening and leadership | Opinion

West Palm’s future requires both listening and leadership | Opinion

Mayor Keith James: The commitment to plan carefully, listen seriously, and prepare for the future is at the heart of the Downtown Master Plan Update.
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Provo Mayor Defends Vesper Amphitheater Amid Public Opposition and Reworked Plans

Provo Mayor Defends Vesper Amphitheater Amid Public Opposition and Reworked Plans

Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins is defending the proposed Vesper Amphitheater project, urging the public to allow the development process to continue despite significant opposition. The project, spearheaded by the Osmond family and with Donny Osmond as advisory board chair, plans for a 20,000-seat music venue, a 75-room hotel, and thousands of parking spaces on 100 acres near the base of Provo Canyon. Developers recently withdrew their initial application to address public concerns, particularly regarding traffic and retail space, and plan to resubmit revised plans by the end of the month. Public pushback has been substantial, with residents and even the city of Orem expressing concerns about increased traffic congestion on University Avenue and 800 North, noise pollution, and the preservation of the canyon's open space. Todd Pedersen, founder of Vivint, and Golden Harper are among those vocalizing strong opposition.
Nashville TennesseanNashville Tennessean
Oracle campus could include a dozen buildings, water feature, plans show

Oracle campus could include a dozen buildings, water feature, plans show

A final site plan for Oracle's Nashville tech campus shows five clusters of office buildings, a luxury hotel and large water feature.
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Atlanta Launches $5 Billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Amid Gentrification Concerns

Atlanta Launches $5 Billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Amid Gentrification Concerns

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens's administration has introduced the $5 billion-plus Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI), a significant urban renewal plan designed to channel rising property values into long-neglected communities. The initiative aims to fund essential services such as affordable housing, health centers, grocery stores, infrastructure, and workforce development, with the goal of bridging the city's stark divides in race, income, and life expectancy. The NRI heavily relies on Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a mechanism where property tax revenue exceeding a baseline value in designated areas (Tax Allocation Districts, or TADs) is reinvested. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the plan's speculative nature, its dependence on a continuously rising housing market, and its potential to exacerbate gentrification and displacement, particularly given the mixed track record of TIFs in other cities and Atlanta's own Beltline project.
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Chicago Celebrates Completion of First Loop Office-to-Residential Conversion at The Bellwether Residences

Chicago Celebrates Completion of First Loop Office-to-Residential Conversion at The Bellwether Residences

Mayor Brandon Johnson, alongside R2 Development and city officials, celebrated the grand opening of The Bellwether Residences in Chicago's Loop. This project marks the first completed office-to-residential conversion in the area, transforming 11 floors of vacant office space at the historic Rector building into 117 mixed-income residential units and ground-floor retail. The $64.2 million adaptive reuse initiative is a key component of the Johnson administration's strategy to revitalize downtown Chicago, aiming to create a 24-hour live, work, and play environment. Of the 117 units, 41 are designated as affordable housing for households earning an average of 60% of the area median income. City funding for the project included $28 million in Tax Increment Financing and a landmark designation in 2025, which facilitated $7.8 million in federal historic tax credits. The Bellwether is part of the broader LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative, which seeks to convert underutilized office spaces into mixed-income res...
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Kenosha County and Pringle Nature Center Secure 10-Year Lease Agreement

Kenosha County and Pringle Nature Center Secure 10-Year Lease Agreement

Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and leaders from the Pringle Nature Center have officially signed a new 10-year lease agreement. This long-term pact ensures the continued operation of the nature center within Bristol Woods Park. The signing ceremony took place on September 2, prior to the final Bristol Woodstock concert performance of the season. Nick Spittlemeister, Board Chairman of the Pringle Nature Center, signed the agreement on behalf of the center. This development follows other local news in Kenosha County, including the Somers Village Board passing a resolution objecting to the proposed Hard Rock Casino project until a revenue-sharing agreement is reached, and Kenosha County considering a moratorium on battery storage systems.
The Commercial AppealThe Commercial Appeal
What's that moving into the Macon Road industrial park in Cordova?

What's that moving into the Macon Road industrial park in Cordova?

The Macon Road industrial park in Cordova is getting a new business.
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Lexington Planning Commission Reviews Revised Data Center Regulations Amidst Rapid Growth Concerns

Lexington Planning Commission Reviews Revised Data Center Regulations Amidst Rapid Growth Concerns

Lexington, Kentucky's General Government and Planning Commission recently reviewed a revised set of regulations concerning data centers. This review is part of an ongoing process that will ultimately be decided by the city council. City staff informed the commission that existing rules are insufficient to address the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly with the advent of AI and its projected demand. The original proposal from city staff was deemed inadequate by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Planning Commission in July, leading them to draft their own revisions. The revised proposal, presented by Planning Principal Daniel Crum, introduces a new definition for minor data centers, mandates more studies and plans, and includes additional spacing requirements. Specifically, the July revisions cap minor data centers at 40,000 square feet, down from 50,000 square feet, and increase the required buffer near sensitive areas from 1,000 feet to 1,500 feet. It also lowers the allowed noise level near re...
Wilmington Star-NewsWilmington Star-News
Who's paying the highest property taxes in the Wilmington area?

Who's paying the highest property taxes in the Wilmington area?

Here are property tax rates for municipalities in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
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White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Considers New Riverfront Stadium Development in Chicago

White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Considers New Riverfront Stadium Development in Chicago

White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Considers New Riverfront Stadium Development in Chicago
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NYC Council Considers Joining Lawsuit Against Venue for Allegedly Misappropriating Public Space Under Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge

NYC Council Considers Joining Lawsuit Against Venue for Allegedly Misappropriating Public Space Under Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge

The New York City Council is contemplating joining a lawsuit against Guastavino's, an events venue located under the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge. City Council Speaker Julie Menin has threatened to file an amicus curiae in the pending litigation, which alleges that Guastavino's has illegally claimed a public plaza as its own for the past decade. The lawsuit, initiated by private citizens, claims the venue has repeatedly excluded the public from this city-owned space, which was originally designated as a public sitting area. Guastavino's is accused of using fake signs, security guards, and even local police to block taxpayer access, while simultaneously renting out the space for private events, with charges reportedly reaching up to $300,000. Menin has requested a meeting with Guastavino's to resolve the dispute before the Council decides on its involvement in the lawsuit. The venue recently acknowledged the space as a public plaza and stated it is working with the city on a resolution.