New Updates on The Edge

PD&R’s online magazine, The Edge, provides you with a snapshot view of our newly released research, periodicals, publications, news, and commentaries on housing and urban development issues. Stay informed on current topics and check back frequently, as our content is routinely updated.

Message from PD&R Leadership: Homeownership: The American Dream

In the leadership message, director of PD&R's Research Utilization Division Rachelle Levitt examines the state of homeownership in the U.S. and the many HUD programs that exist to help Americans become homeowners. Owning a home confers several benefits including reduced housing costs, increased ability to accumulate wealth, and expanded access to credit. Levitt also profiles the Federal Housing Administration, which is part of HUD’s Office of Housing and the largest mortgage insurer in the world.

Featured: State of the Nation’s Housing Report 2018

In June 2018, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University held a panel discussion in conjunction with the release of its annual “State of the Nation’s Housing” report. The housing experts and economists on the panel discussed current trends in the housing market, demographic shifts, and strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing.

In Practice: From Historic Hospital to Affordable Housing for Seniors in Aurora, Illinois

Aurora St. Charles Senior Living, a 60-unit apartment complex for seniors of varying income levels, opened in Aurora, Illinois, in December 2016. The historic six-story Art Deco building functioned as a hospital until 2010, when it was shuttered and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation allowed developer Evergreen Real Estate Group to receive state and federal historic rehabilitation credits to help finance the $23 million development.

Trending: Designing Affordable and Equitable Housing

In June 2018, the American Institute of Architects held its 2018 Conference on Architecture in New York City. A major theme of the conference was expanding the availability of sustainable and affordable housing, an issue especially relevant to growing cities like New York. A panel of experts presenting during the session “Designing Affordable and Equitable Housing: Creating Resilient Equitable Urban Communities” discussed how informed design choices can help cities create housing that meets its population’s varied needs. The panelists proposed solutions including shared housing, high-density low-rise buildings, and the repurposing of existing buildings for residential use.

Spotlight: Strong Growth Continues in Tampa Bay

The latest article in a series focusing on HUD’s Comprehensive Housing Market Analyses examines the Tampa Housing Market Area (HMA). Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, this HMA has an economy centered on the professional and business services sector, which has led job growth since 2014. The Tampa HMA’s economy has grown every year since 2011, with all sectors adding jobs during that period with the exception of the information sector. Employment growth is expected to continue over the next 3 years, with housing demand remaining strong during the same period.