Housing

Denver, Colorado

Denver Bans 'Slot Homes,' But Not Before They Changed Neighborhoods

Aerial photos show just how completely some areas of the city were transformed before the building typology was eliminated earlier this week.

May 9, 2018 - The Denver Post

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Portland Makes ADU Incentives Permanent

Development fees can add some $15,000 to the cost of building a home in Portland. Residents adding an accessory dwelling unit to their property won't need to worry about those expenses, as long as they don't use the limit for short-term rentals.

May 9, 2018 - Portland Tribune

golf course homes

Report: More Mortgage Interest Deduction Goes to the Wealthy After Changes

Changes to the Mortgage Interest Deduction ostensibly made the housing subsidy more progressive. The real consequences of the change, however, make the deduction "significantly more inequitable that it was in years past."

May 8, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Michigan

A $130 Million Infusion for Detroit's 'Strategic Neighborhood Fund'

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Planning Director Maurice Cox announced a major new funding initiative to support the city's Strategic Neighborhood Fund. Funding will support projects in seven target neighborhoods.

May 8, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Trump Campaign

Lawsuit Challenges the Trump Administration's Approach to Fair Housing

Housing Advocates have filed a lawsuit to press the Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

May 8, 2018 - The Washington Post

Ohio River

Millennials Moving to Mid-Size Cities

Jobs and cheap housing give some small cities a big appeal for folks in their 20s and 30s.

May 7, 2018 - Curbed

Ontario, Canada

Doug Ford, Candidate for Ontario Premier, Would Open Toronto Greenbelt to Development

A prominent conservative with an infamous name is promoting single-family home development in the Toronto greenbelt as a way to release pressure on the Toronto housing market.

May 7, 2018 - Toronto Sun

Seattle Victorian

Zoned Out: Seattle Prioritizes Single-Family Residential

In Seattle, most (88 percent) of the city's new housing is being developed in a few small, already dense areas around the city. Most of the city is reserved for single-family housing.

May 7, 2018 - The Seattle Times

San Francisco

California as a Model for Housing Legislation

The Golden State may have the nation's most severe housing crisis, but there is one area of state housing policy where it shines, becoming a model for other states that want to advance accessory dwelling units, also called granny or in-law units.

May 7, 2018 - Next City

Cleveland 4th Street St. Patrick's

Can Density Prevent Diabetes?

In Australia, a new study will determine the best ways to make high-density developments healthy places to live.

May 7, 2018 - Diabetes.co.uk

View of solar panels on roofs

California to Require Solar on New Residential Buildings

The California Energy Commission will decide on new energy standards for residential construction this week.

May 6, 2018 - The Orange County Register

California House

Op-Ed: It's Time for a Weakened Mortgage Interest Deduction To Go

Last year's tax reform bill seriously curtailed the mortgage interest deduction, despite its reputation for untouchability. Perhaps lawmakers should get rid of it entirely.

May 4, 2018 - Slate

East River

Comptroller's Report Finds Massive 'Airbnb Effect' in New York City

A new report by the New York City Comptroller's Office has estimated the cost of Airbnb to the city's rental market, and the tab is a big one: $616 million in 2016 alone.

May 4, 2018 - Bloomberg

San Francisco Skyline

The One Tech Company That's Engaging In California's Housing Debate

While tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Apple have approached the Bay Area's housing crisis gingerly the CEO of Yelp has thrown himself into the YIMBY movement. His activism says a lot about the real world and the virtual world.

May 3, 2018 - California Planning & Development Report

Downtown Miami

Miami's Affordable Housing Crunch

Despite new construction, Miami homes remain stubbornly expensive. An opinion piece for Next City makes the case for community land trusts as a solution.

May 2, 2018 - Next City

Housing

It’s Time to Build New, Mixed-Income Public Housing

Interview with the co-author of the report "Social Housing in the United States," on the politics of home ownership, why public housing needs to be mixed-income, and providing adequate, affordable housing to all citizens.

May 2, 2018 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Seattle Train

New Surplus Land Policy to Supplement Sound Transit's Big Investments

Inclusive transit oriented development is a top priority with Sound Transit's new surplus land policy.

May 2, 2018 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

Los Angeles High Rise Construction

New Housing Law Empowers Renters Group to Sue Cities that Deny New Construction

The California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund, unlike other renters groups, sees increased housing production as key to bringing down rents. It is enforcing the Housing Accountability Act in cities that arbitrarily deny new construction.

May 2, 2018 - California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund

Wealthy Neighborhood

Looking for a Starter Home in Dallas? Good Luck

According to a new study, fewer than 10 percent of homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are priced for first-time buyers.

May 1, 2018 - The Dallas Morning News

Master-Planned Community

The Suburb Building Its Own Beach

Tired of facing beach erosion and the threats of hurricanes in Florida, but still want beachfront property? This new suburban community is simply building its own beach.

May 1, 2018 - Modern Cities

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.