Housing

Apartment for Rent sign

Emergency Assistance Has Helped Renters, but Hurdles Remain

Research shows pandemic rent relief programs made a significant difference for struggling renters.

April 8, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies

Facade of Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles

How Adaptive Reuse Can Ease the Housing Crisis

An analysis of Los Angeles properties found that the city could make a significant impact on its housing shortage by converting commercial buildings to housing.

April 7, 2022 - LAist

Community members at a public meeting

How Democratic Is Zoning?

One common argument against pro-housing zoning reform is that local or neighborhood control of housing policy is more democratic than the alternatives. This theory, if taken seriously, leads to absurd results.

April 7, 2022 - Michael Lewyn

View looking down on construction of multiple buildings in San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center District

Housing Initiative Inches Closer to San Francisco Voters

Housing advocates hope a charter amendment that would streamline the development approval process will make it to the November ballot.

April 7, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Mount Rainier

Tacoma Density Plan Moves to Phase Two

The Home in Tacoma plan would amend the city's zoning code to include more 'missing middle' housing types and encourage infill development.

April 7, 2022 - The Urbanist

Coronavirus

San Diego Moving Forward With No-Fault Eviction Moratorium

Unlike the no-fault eviction protections being considered in other states and cities, San Diego's new eviction moratorium is timed to coincide with the ongoing economic and public health emergency presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

April 6, 2022 - Voice of San Diego

Wichita, Kansas, USA downtown skyline at dusk.

An Uncommon Success for Housing Vouchers in Wichita

While less than a fifth of housing vouchers are utilized nationwide, Wichita has distributed around 70 percent of the vouchers allocated to the city.

April 6, 2022 - Next City

Second Avenue Subway

Opinion: Second Avenue Subway Should Come With Zoning Changes

Increasing density in the neighborhoods surrounding the new subway stops would bring more affordable, transit-adjacent housing to East Harlem and boost ridership.

April 6, 2022 - Gotham Gazette

Hillside home construction in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Study: How California Can Shift Away From Car-Oriented Development

While the state continues to rely on driving as a primary means of transportation, fighting climate change and the worsening housing crisis means implementing policies that encourage infill development, higher density, and public transit.

April 5, 2022 - OC Register

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Opinion: Revise Zoning and Tax Codes To Support Adaptive Reuse of NYC Office Space

With office buildings facing an uncertain future in their current form, cities can tweak regulations to encourage innovative new uses.

April 5, 2022 - New York Daily News

Housing Construction

U.S. Faces Historic Housing Shortages, With Roots in the Recession and Local Zoning Restrictions

The long-term effects of the Great Recession were timed very poorly for millions of Millennials aging into homebuying years. The pandemic and the traditional zoning preferences of communities aren't doing first-time homebuyers any favors.

April 4, 2022 - NPR

Master-Planned Cittes

Why California Should Not, Cannot Solve Its Housing Crisis By Building New Cities

A recent essay advocates for the development of a new city in California to alleviate the state's housing crisis. The argument needs a few tweaks.

April 4, 2022 - Josh Stephens

Pacific Ocean

More SB 9 Drama: L.A. County Cities Sue California

Four Southern California cities are calling SB9 unconstitutional in the fight to retain local control over zoning codes and housing density.

April 4, 2022 - Times of San Diego

Indian Trail, North Carolina

HOAs Fight Back Against Institutional Investors

A growing number of homeowners associations around the country are using old legal tools to keep institutional investors from buying up, and renting out, the neighborhood.

April 3, 2022 - The Washington Post

Detroit Public Transit

Michigan Bill To Inject Nearly $5 Billion in Infrastructure, Housing

A bill signed by the state's governor, Gretchen Whitmer, allocates billions in federal and state funding to water quality, roads and dams, broadband, and other infrastructure projects.

April 1, 2022 - Detroit Free Press

Street view in downtown Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville Weighs Zoning Reform Proposal

The northern Florida city could follow others in removing barriers to building accessory dwelling units and multifamily buildings in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes. Some local residents oppose the plan.

April 1, 2022 - The Gainesville Sun

A map showing Auburn, Maine and surrounding highways and towns.

Auburn, Maine Approves New Residential and Commercial Densities Despite Public Outcry

Auburn, Maine offers the latest an example of a small city deciding to increase its capacity for future development in response to housing pressure, even in the face of intense public opposition.

March 31, 2022 - Sun Journal

A block of the Bowery in New York City seen from high above, with taxis and other cars passing on the street in front of the buildings.

How Hidden Property Owners and Bad Landlord Patterns Are Revealed in NYC

New housing tools in New York City demystify building ownership information and identify problematic landlord behavior. What would it take to replicate them?

March 31, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Apartment renter

California's Extended Tenant Protections a Mixed Bag

While state lawmakers rush to pass extended eviction protection for struggling Californians, tenant advocates say the new law could nullify local rent relief initiatives and exclude tenants who miss the application deadline.

March 30, 2022 - CALmatters

 The Young Apartments — 1621 South Grand Avenue, at the southern end of Downtown Los Angeles.

California Not Creating Affordable Housing Quickly Enough, Audit Finds

The audit points to inefficiencies in the state's process for identifying and using surplus properties to create affordable housing.

March 30, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.