Housing

Closure of Tiny House Village in Seattle Prompts Concern
Meant to serve chronically homeless people, the Licton Springs tiny house village has been controversial from the start. It's uncertain whether enough permanent housing exists to resettle all residents.

Seattle to Use Surplus Public Land for Affordable Housing
New municipal and state laws have made it possible for Seattle to sell excess land to affordable housing developers at below-market rates, or even to give it away.

Community-Based Planning: A Case Study
When neighborhoods are allowed to plan and zone without considering the regionwide interest in increasing housing stock, scarcity results.

Not All of San Diego's Inclusionary Zoning Funds Going to Affordable Housing
San Diego finds itself having to explain how its inclusionary zoning program spending diverged from expectations.

15 Cities, 1 Mission: Build More Housing
A coalition of 15 cities in the Boston area agreed to rapidly build new housing to relieve pressure on the regional housing market.

Amazon's First Forays Into Homebuilding Are Worth Watching
A new player with a very familiar name has entered into the residential homebuilding market.

Two Sides of the California Rent Control Debate, in Silicon Valley and Beyond
In California, rent control continues to be a hotly contested issue at both the local and state levels.

Proposed Density Bonus Program Evolves in Philadelphia
Philadelphia is sweetening the deal in a proposal that would offer developers density bonuses if they send money to the city's Housing Trust Fund.

A New, Renter-Friendly Politics Emerges
There are signs that politicians at every level are responding to the concerns of renters like never before. If only renter-friendly housing policies were matters of simple consensus.

Waiving Development Fees to Spur Apartment Construction
One way to increase housing supply is to make it cheaper to building multi-family housing, like Toronto recently decided to do.

San Francisco’s Housing Woes: How the Past Informs the Present
A zoning history dating back to the 19th century still has significant impacts on the city’s housing in the present day.

In Detroit, Continuing the Legacy of Land Banks
While the Detroit Land Bank has had its ups and downs, it has made significant progress in a city with no shortage of vacant and delinquent properties.

California Gas Tax Supporters Get Good News from Latest Voter Survey
In a turnaround from prior voter surveys, a poll released Wednesday on November propositions found a slim majority of voters opposed to repealing the state's first legislative gas tax increase since 1989. Rent control opponents received good news too

Comptroller Report Errs When Counting Affordable Housing
There's a point to be made about the decline of New York City's affordable housing stock. Instead we'll talk about a badly mistaken report that severely over reported the problem.

Report: Not Enough Housing Supply to Meet Demand in Downtown Cleveland
The findings of a new report might run counter to common perceptions about Cleveland's shrinking population. Downtown Cleveland could, and should, provide more housing opportunities, according to the report.

More Affordable Housing Needed to Keep Pace with Boston's Growth
Boston's housing goals were set in 2014, but had to be revised as the city's population growth exceeds previous estimates.

San Jose to Vote on $450 Million Affordable Housing Bond
A $450 million bond referendum will come before San Jose voters this November. Mayor Sam Liccardo promises it is "a necessary but not sufficient tool" to provide stable housing at an epicenter of the housing crisis.

Short-Term Rentals Too Controversial to Touch in New Orleans
A proposed revision of the city of New Orleans' regulations of short-term rentals was too controversial for the City Planning Commission to approve at a hearing this week.

A Billion-Dollar Bet on Home Flipping
Amherst Holdings, a large-scale single family landlord, has rolled out a subsidiary to buy and renovate houses for resale.

Grappling With the Potential Impact of Amazon's HQ2
What does it mean for housing planning if your county gets Amazon's second headquarters? Virginia's Loudoun County contemplates that possibility with a mix of confidence and trepidation.
Pagination
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