Housing

Downtown Redwood City

Housing Politics: Think Regionally, Lose Locally

Two Bay Area city council members serving on a regional commission suffered the political consequences of supporting a controversial regional housing initiative, not from their constituents, but from their colleagues.

February 1, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Single-Family Neighborhood

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legislation Proposed in Washington Sets a New Standard

If it approves HB 1797, Washington will pace the rest of the nation (even California and Oregon) on reforming zoning to allow more accessory dwelling units.

January 31, 2019 - Sightline Institute

New York City Housing Authority

Breaking News: New Federal Oversight for the New York City Housing Authority

Details are still forthcoming, but the big news out of New York City today is about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development assuming new oversight powers over the city's troubled housing agency.

January 31, 2019 - Politico

California Beach Town

Huntington Beach Sues California Over 2017 By-Right Affordable Housing Bill

When it comes to housing lawsuits involving the state and new housing laws, Huntington Beach might be ground zero. Over a week before Attorney General Becerra sued the Orange County city at the behest of Gov. Newsom, the city sued the state.

January 31, 2019 - SF Gate

Sprawl

New California Governor Follows Up Tough Housing Rhetoric with Action

Gov. Gavin Newsom, only weeks into his new office, had warned cities that his office would hold them accountable for failing to meet their housing requirements. On Friday, he directed Attorney General Xavier Bacerra to sue Hungtinton Beach.

January 30, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Mixed-Use Development

Silicon Valley Tech Community Commits $500 Million to Fund Housing Crisis

A large group of technology and philanthropic foundations has announced multiple funds to help mitigate the crisis of housing affordability in the Bay Area. It's the second such effort announced already this year.

January 28, 2019 - The New York Times

Homeless Services

HUD Announces $2 Billion in Grant Funding for Local Homeless Programs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is renewing program support for thousands of local programs that offer support and assistance to the homeless.

January 28, 2019 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Illinois Freeway

Land Use Regulation's Legacy of Racial Segregation

An investigative feature by Governing magazine blames the history of land use regulations like zoning and redlining for the racial segregation of contemporary communities all over the state of Illinois and the country.

January 28, 2019 - Governing

California Beach Town

California Sues Huntington Beach for Lack of Housing Development

California's new governor has sent a strong signal to local governments: build housing to comply with state law or else.

January 27, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

The Peninsula

Regional Attempt to Address Housing Crisis Advances in Bay Area

A regional, comprehensive, and controversial approach to tackling the housing affordability crisis in the nine-county Bay Area, including strategies to render renter protections and new housing production, has cleared three major hurdles.

January 25, 2019 - KQED: California Report

New York City Real Estate

The Most Expensive Home in U.S. History Is a New York Penthouse

The richest person in Illinois just set a record for the most expensive home ever bought in the United States.

January 25, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Seattle & Mt. Rainier

Microsoft's $500 Million Pledge to Solve Housing in Seattle and its Suburbs

You might have read that headline and wondered why other wealthy tech companies aren't stepping up to make contributions to their home towns. There is a lot to understand about this news before jumping to conclusions.

January 24, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Detroit Construction

Detroit Property Values Soar, Finally

Detroit's property values are climbing, steeply, for the first time in almost two decades.

January 23, 2019 - The Detroit News

Toronto, Dundas St, Chinatown

'Housing Now' Initiative Takes Shape in Toronto

Housing advocates still expect controversies over the loss of parking to make room for thousands of affordable housing units.

January 23, 2019 - CBC

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADU Construction Still Difficult in California

Accessory dwelling units should be easier to build in California, but the process is still slow and complicated in many cities, say housing advocates.

January 22, 2019 - The Mercury News

Chicago, Illinois

Lincoln Park and the Complicated History of Gentrification in Chicago

The following excerpt, written by Daniel Kay Hertz in the introduction to The Battle of Lincoln Park, challenges assumptions about the forces of gentrification in Chicago, with lessons for communities around the country.

January 22, 2019 - Daniel Kay Hertz

Las Vegas Sprawl

Video: Urban Planning Trends to Watch in 2019

Feeling a little "tl;dr" about the "Urban Planning Trends to Watch in 2019" article published by Planetizen earlier this month?

January 21, 2019 - Planetizen via YouTube

Homelessness

The 'Latino Homeless Paradox'

The city of Philadelphia provides a case study of the so-called "Latino Homeless Paradox." There are many more low-income and homeless Latinos than reflected in the numbers of those using supportive services in the city.

January 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Seattle Multi-Family and Downtown

How Do Downtown Homes Prices Compare?

After a decade of shifting market preferences and an ongoing urban renaissance, how do downtown home prices compare in cities around the country?

January 20, 2019 - Property Shark

Homeless Community

An Illustrated Exploration of Portland's Homeless Community

An illustrated comic strip introduces the community of support found at Right 2 Dream Too, a homeless community of tents and tiny homes built by and for homeless people.

January 18, 2019 - The Nib

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.

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.