Housing

San Jose Approves Tenant Protections, Studying a Ban on Voucher Discrimination
The city of San Jose, California is crafting regulations to give renters and low-income residents more rights and access to fair housing.

Signs of Life from the Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act, considered under threat by the Trump Administration and the Republican majority in Congress, still has power, but cities have long road ahead to prove bans liable for harms caused by predatory and discriminatory lending.
Milwaukee Looking for Ways to Finally Force Landlords to Pay Property Taxes
Landlords in Milwaukee have several methods for avoiding paying fines and property taxes—it's all a part of gaming the system. After the local paper investigated the "landlord games," the city is taking action.

Op-Ed: Sacramento Drags Feet on Housing
Dan Walters has some harsh words for California state leaders. He says their approach to the housing shortage has been "tepid" and "lackadaisical."

Rents and Inequity Rising Together
U.S. landlords are getting a bigger share of the economic pie than they ever have before, according to new government data.

What Will Los Angeles Will Do Next On Housing & Water? Look To Their Neighbors
The cities of Santa Monica, Culver CIty, West Hollywood, and Malibu are championing stormwater infrastructure, new public transit, affordable housing, and action on homelessness prevention.

U.S. Housing Prices Still Haven't Recovered from the Great Recession
While some cities become more and more expensive, most of the country's housing prices still haven't recovered from the great recession.

Inclusionary Zoning Bill to Increase Affordable Rentals Passes California Assembly
Due to a 2009 court decision, cities and counties in California are prohibited from requiring that a percentage of units in rental developments be affordable. A bill by Assemblyman Richard Bloom would restore inclusionary zoning for rentals.

Middle Neighborhoods: On the Edge of Greatness or Distress
St. Louis provides the backdrop for a discussion about "middle neighborhoods"—the subject of a 2016 book by Paul C. Brophy.

$2.5 Million is Too Much for a Teardown
Palo Alto has become so expensive, plots of land with derelict houses sell for millions of dollars. Mathew Yglesias argues allowing small municipalities to make their own zoning laws is partly to blame.

'Citizen Jane' Sets the Battle Lines for the Future of Cities
Coinciding with the 101st anniversary of Jane Jacobs's birth, a documentary film showing in select theaters around the country recounts the history between Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses, and the ideas that forced their struggle.

After Measure S: Los Angeles Leaders Ponder Growth and Equity
The controversy over the recent ballot initiative known as Measure S has Los Angeles thinking: How can the city accommodate new housing supply without disenfranchising communities?

Study: House Sizes Increase at the Expense of Tree Canopies
A research study has found that increasing house sizes in the Los Angeles area have drastically reduced the number of trees shading the region's landscapes—regardless of geographic location of socioeconomic status.

San Francisco Preserves Affordable Housing At Risk of Gentrification
A loan program helps non-profits procure affordable apartment buildings that might otherwise be snatched up by speculative developers.

California Lawmakers Continue Push For More Affordable Housing
The author of California’s successful accessory dwelling unit legislation last year discusses this session's efforts, as well as the role of the state in determining local housing supply.

A Path to Looser Land Use Regulations
Harvard economics professor Edward Glaeser discusses the research on local land use controls, and why it makes sense to reevaluate them. Successful approaches may start at the state level.

HUD Directs Houston to Revoke Housing Vouchers
A recent letter from HUD instructs the Houston Housing Authority to take drastic measures to reduce a projected budget gap.

An Ambitious Revitalization Partnership in Detroit
Bringing together the city, developers, and philanthropic support, Fitz Forward aims to redevelop 300 parcels. Backers hope it will serve as a model for other neighborhoods.

Proposed Regulations to Create Affordable Housing for Seattle's Uptown
Draft ordinance regulating urban design in Seattle's Uptown would mean big changes for the neighborhood’s affordable housing requirements.

Activists Push for Affordable Housing in an Ever More Expensive Miami
Groups advocate moving mismanaged properties into the hands of community trusts, and building more affordable housing in Miami.
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