NIMBYs

Rosa Parks

Obama on the Record Against Sprawl, Inequality by Design

Former President Barack Obama was at the AIA’s national conference in Chicago earlier this month. His presentation included some strong words about the effects of sprawl.

June 30, 2022 - Dezeen

YIMBY

What Is a YIMBY?

YIMBY, an acronym standing for "Yes In My Backyard," describes advocates who support housing development as a response to the outcomes of restrictive zoning and planning policies.

June 29, 2022 - James Brasuell

A conceptual rendering of a three story condominium development.

‘Emergency’ Historic District Alters, But Does Not Prevent, Boise Condo Project

No historic buildings were harmed to create the Residences at 132 Main.

June 23, 2022 - Boise Dev

Minneapolis

Judge Blocks Minneapolis 2040 Implementation, Citing Lack of Environmental Review

Environmentalists have used the power of the legal system to protect the car-centric status quo of single-family zoning once again, overturning a landmark planning innovation in Minneapolis.

June 21, 2022 - MPR News

Salt Lake City, Utah

Buslash in Salt Lake City

New bus routes planned for Salt Lake City have provoked a vocal political opposition.

June 1, 2022 - The Salt Lake Tribune

A map focuses on the city of Shawnee, Kansas and its surrounding roads and neighboring towns.

Co-Living Banned in Shawnee, Kansas

Anti-multi-family housing sentiment hits a new note in Shawnee, Kansas, after the city council votes to prohibit co-living from the city.

May 1, 2022 - KCTV

Congestion

What Is LOS?

Level of Service (LOS) defines how well vehicle traffic flows along a street or road. LOS is one of the most influential metrics in planning, with critical relevance for both land use and transportation planning.

April 27, 2022 - James Brasuell

A rainbow colored sign planted in the front yard of a typical suburban home reads, "In this house we believe love is love, black lives matter, no human is illegal, science is real, women's rights are human rights. In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

Study: Affordable Housing Development Raises Nearby Property Values

More evidence that a common talking point of affordable housing opposition is more fear than fact.

April 20, 2022 - Urban Institute

YIMBY

Where Pro-Development Groups Are Gaining Traction

The YIMBY movement seems to be gaining steam as more the country deals with growing housing prices and increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness. Recent research reveals where pro-development forces are most likely to call home.

April 18, 2022 - Brookings

Montgomery County

'Neighborhood Defenders' and the Suburban Status Quo

A tour de force of reporting documents the efforts of suburban Maryland residents to oppose new developments in their neighborhoods.

April 6, 2022 - DCist

A typical American shopping center, with a thrift store at one end and a parking lot full of cars.

One Maryland Thrift Store: 40 Pages of Zoning Documentation

A writer for Strong Towns offers a case study of "the byzantine development process" of many municipalities in the United States.

March 17, 2022 - Strong Towns

NIMBY Sign

What Is a NIMBY?

One of the most politically charged and controversial terms in planning, the acronym NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard.

March 14, 2022 - James Brasuell

Winter Construction in the City

Corruption Case and a Call for Reform: Aldermanic Privilege Under Scrutiny in Chicago

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is once again pushing to eliminate aldermanic privilege after a federal racketeering case ensnarled local and state elected officials.

March 7, 2022 - Chicago Sun-Times

Students passing through the historic Sather Gate on the University of California, Berkeley campus.

Without New Environmental Impact Report, UC Berkeley Will Enroll Thousands Fewer Students

A high-profile example of the power of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) might cause thousands of students to miss out on a chance to attend the University of California, Berkeley.

February 15, 2022 - Berkeleyside

An overhead image of a large wooden building as it's being constructed.

Ballot Initiative Could Overturn California's Zoning Reforms

The "mother of all NIMBY initiatives" is seeking signatures to qualify for the statewide ballot in California.

February 15, 2022 - James Brasuell

A map showing the city of Hammond and surrounding cities in Louisiana and Florida.

Louisiana City Halts Multi-Family Housing Construction Due to Infrastructure Concerns

The Hammond City Council has paused multi-family development approvals while it studies ways to improve the city's infrastructure.

February 10, 2022 - The Daily Star

Rattlesnakes

Silicon Valley Town Backs Off Mountain-Lions-as-Density-Deterrent

An update for Woodside's plans to avoid a state-mandated rezoning by claiming that the entire town serves as mountain lion habitat.

February 8, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

A map showing the location of Woodside, California and its surrounding roads.

A Novel Defense Against State-Mandated Density: Mountain Lions

Woodside, a small town in the South Bay Area of California, has invented a new method for resisting state-mandated zoning reforms.

February 3, 2022 - The Almanac

A map with the location fo Fayetteville, Georgia highlighted among surrounding cities and highways.

Atlanta Suburb Freezes Residential Rezonings

Fayetteville, Georgia is seeing more applications for new townhomes than the city council can stomach.

December 27, 2021 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Aspen

Aspen Presses Pause on New Construction, Short-Term Rentals

Residents and elected officials of the famously wealthy mountain town of Aspen don't like the way the city is headed.

December 13, 2021 - The Colorado Sun

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