Housing

Highway Living

The Housing Market Recovery Extends to Phoenix

Experts expect the Phoenix region, a hot bed for the negative effects of the housing crash of the Great Recession, to become one of the nation's strongest housing markets in 2017.

December 27, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Seattle Mixed Use Development

New Seattle Loan Fund Finances Affordable Housing

As excitement builds around Seattle's voter-approved transit expansion plan, the REDI Fund will preserve space for low and middle-income residents in new transit-oriented developments.

December 26, 2016 - Next City

School Buses

Op-Ed: Exclusionary Zoning Worsens Education Gap

Pete Rodrigue pulls from multiple studies, arguing that zoning contributes to an education gap between rich and poor students. Housing costs lie at the heart of the problem.

December 26, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Homeless in New York City

New York City Relying on Hotels to House the Homeless

Throughout 2016, New York City has expanded the practice of renting hotel rooms to house homeless people. Now the city is looking for a vendor to shoulder some of the work of finding rooms for those in need.

December 25, 2016 - Politico New York

Portland Statue

Inclusionary Zoning Now the Law in Portland, Oregon

Portland's new inclusionary zoning policy will go into effect in February.

December 23, 2016 - The Oregonian

Domestic Millennial

More Young Americans Living With Their Parents Than Any Year Since 1940

The highest share of young Americans living with their parents hit a record high of 40.9 percent in 1940. In 2016, the share falls just short of that figure, at 40 percent.

December 22, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Second Home

Bill Would End Tax Breaks for Second Homes in California

AB 71, originating from the California Assembly, would raise funding for low-income housing construction by ending an existing tax break for second homes.

December 21, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Suburban Pittsburgh

New Pittsburgh Tenants Union: 'A Long Time Coming'

A new citywide tenants union, designed to provide an umbrella for smaller organizations and new levels of education and access to renters, is taking shape in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

December 21, 2016 - Keystone Crossroads

Stockton Foreclosure

Principles of Housing Finance Reform: The Imperative of Rebuilding the System

In a new article, Penn IUR Fellow Joseph Tracy and Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wacther write about the imperative of rebuilding the housing finance system.

December 20, 2016 - Penn IUR Urban Link

California

Another Attempt at California's By-Right Affordable Housing Proposal

The new streamlining bill for affordable housing will not have the governor's name, but that of freshman Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who made a name for himself as a tenacious housing advocate while San Francisco County Supervisor.

December 20, 2016 - KQED: California Report

Electoral College

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2016

No Electoral College needed: these were the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2016.

December 19, 2016 - James Brasuell

Additional Study Necessary for Seattle to Pass Accessory Dwelling Units Legislation

A recent ruling by the City Hearing Examiner is a setback—but not necessarily a permanent one—for the city's efforts to loosen regulations on accessory dwelling units.

December 19, 2016 - Seattle Met

Parking

Transit Up, Parking Down in Seattle

Facing an affordability crisis, Seattle is betting on dense, walkable development. The transition away from guaranteed parking promises to be no easier here than elsewhere.

December 16, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Tide Light Rail

This Light Rail Line Lowers Nearby Home Prices

Not every transit project has a positive effect on adjacent property values. A study finds that people do not, in fact, want to live next to Norfolk, Virginia's Tide light rail.

December 16, 2016 - Next City

Gentrification the Killer in Oakland Fire

Already, the Ghost Ship tragedy is being used as a justification for code enforcement crackdowns that will likely further gentrification. But how can we combat gentrification and displacement and improve safety at the same time?

December 16, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Rain Umbrellas

D.C. Weighs 'Banning the Box' on Housing Applications

Washington, D.C. might prohibit landlords from asking tenants for criminal histories, at least at first pass.

December 16, 2016 - Next City

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

Oakland Startup Trades Homes 'Like Stock'

Roofstock is an online marketplace where investors can buy, sell, and trade homes that tenants are living in.

December 15, 2016 - BizJournals

The U.S. Treasury

It's Not Just HUD

Though the HUD choice seems an odd, unqualified one, we should be looking beyond HUD however: Here's why Mnuchin at Treasury is even more worrisome.

December 13, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Single Room Occupancy Hotel,

The Evolution of SROs and Supportive Housing for San Francisco's Homeless

The San Francisco Chronicle released a series of reports in a special "Beyond Homelessness" edition on San Francisco's attempts to address chronic homelessness. The city spends $112 million annually to operate 75 aging single-room-occupancy hotels.

December 13, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Pasadena's Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Called Out as a 'Poison Pill'

Pasadena's accessory dwelling unit is designed more to prevent than accommodate accessory dwelling units. Planner and Pasadena resident Jonathan P. Bell implores the city's Planning Commission to reform it.

December 13, 2016 - UrbDeZine

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.

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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

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