Housing

Library

New Ideas in Urban Research 2019

Research questions and findings from Penn IUR's emerging scholars.

August 31, 2019 - Penn IUR Urban Link

Surplus State-Owned Land

Where State-Owned Properties Could Make Way for Affordable Housing in California

A recently published mapping project is the first step toward California leveraging some of it surplus land for the purposes of developing affordable housing.

August 30, 2019 - California Department of General Services

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Appetite for ADUs Rises in San Jose

San Jose has issued a steadily-rising number of ADU permits in recent years. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo has implemented measures to ease the process for homeowners who want to build granny flats.

August 30, 2019 - The Mercury News

California Governor

Governor Calls for 1.3 Million New Homes in Southern California

Local governments in Southern California have chafed at a call from Governor Gavin Newsom for 1.3 million new homes over the next decade. The Southern California Association of Governments has proposed only 430,000.

August 30, 2019 - The Los Angeles Times

Cattle Ranch

Tough Market for Luxury Ranches? Blame Generational Differences

Ranches aren't the only segment of the luxury market having a hard time selling at asking price.

August 30, 2019 - The Wall Street Journal

Gold Coast and Old Town

Mortgage Lending in Homogenous Neighborhoods

A new study examines mortgage lending practices in racially homogenous neighborhoods for clues about how those neighborhoods differ from the aggregate, national market.

August 29, 2019 - Housing Policy Debate

Homelessness

Atlanta Reaches Fundraising Goal to Fund Homeless Housing

The United Way of Greater Atlanta partnered with the city to raise private money to help pay for 550 homes for the city's homeless.

August 29, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Suburban Homes

Discretionary Approval for McMansions

Redwood City, located on the San Francisco Peninsula, will make it harder to build homes that take up more than 45 percent of a residential lot.

August 28, 2019 - The Mercury News

Chattahoochee River

New Tenant Protections Meant to Curb Evictions in Georgia

The city of Columbus provides an example of the need for tenant protections in the state of Georgia.

August 27, 2019 - Ledger-Enquirer

Tiny House

Affordable Housing for New Orleans—Tiny Houses?

Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants the planning department to explore and offer up suggestions for ways the city can address its affordable housing needs.

August 27, 2019 - NOLA.com

Elfreth's Alley

Philadelphia Planning Commission Approves ADU Bill

The commission recommended a trio of bills focused on historic preservation, including one that would permit accessory dwelling units on historic properties.

August 27, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Michigan

Digging Into the Data on Detroit's 'Recovery'

In key areas like jobs and housing, the numbers show a definite Motor City rebound since the recession. But a closer look reveals uneven gains and weakness next to state averages.

August 26, 2019 - The Detroit Free Press

Coachella Valley

Thumbs Down on Decades-Old Southern California Housing Development Proposal

A proposal for a large development in the Coachella Valley, near Joshua Tree National Park, is facing obstacles once again as the planning commission fails to recommend the plan move forward.

August 26, 2019 - Desert Sun

Santa Monica, California

Expert Opines on the Fiscal Disincentives Undermining Local Approval of Housing Development

Larry Kosmont identifies the fiscal dysfunction driving city resistance to state-mandated density and offers institutional explanations for California’s current housing crisis.

August 25, 2019 - The Planning Report

British Columbia

Luxury Condos for Sale in Vancouver as Non-Resident Owners Balk at New Taxes

A tax on non-resident property owners is working as it's intended, as a wave of luxury condo units hit the real estate market all over the city of Vancouver.

August 24, 2019 - The Province

Hospital Signs

An Affordable Housing Investment Guide for Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Systems

Hospitals are uniquely suited to make an impact in the ongoing affordable housing crisis in the United States.

August 23, 2019 - Managed Healthcare Executive

Tree Canopy

In the Housing Market, a Few Decades Makes a Huge Difference

"[P]erhaps at this point, this column should include a trigger warning for any young couple traumatized by the current housing market around here."

August 23, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Historic Preservation

Gentrification Mania!

Gentrification is apparently quite rare—so why do urban affairs commentators devote so much time arguing about it?

August 22, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

San Antonio

In San Antonio, Planning Ahead for Affordable Housing

The city anticipates significant population growth in the coming decades, and it has put a funding plan into action to ensure affordable housing doesn’t fall by the wayside.

August 22, 2019 - Next City

San Francisco Houses

Op-Ed: Only Half of San Francisco is Changing

Using a mid 20th-century painting as his point of reference, Benjamin Schneider points out that the vast, disruptive changes we often associate with San Francisco are only affecting the city's eastern side.

August 22, 2019 - 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.