Housing

White neoclassical New York City city hall building.

NYC Agencies Tasked With Finding Affordable Housing Sites

Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order that requires city departments to evaluate their properties for potential housing development.

August 26, 2024 - CBS News

Three-story wood-frame apartment buildings under construction

Democrats Embrace YIMBY Ideas

Vice President Harris’s housing platform is shaping up to include some long-awaited support for pro-density policies and zoning reform.

August 25, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

View across lake of small town of Burien in Washington state.

Burien Church Sues City Over Housing

A church in the small town of Burien that offers shelter to some 100 unhoused people came in conflict with city officials over permitting.

August 25, 2024 - KIRO7

Neighborhood of large houses in suburban Austin, Texas.

Austin Lot Size Changes Could Make Homes More Affordable

Land acquisition makes up 15 to 20 percent of the cost of an average home in the Austin area.

August 23, 2024 - The Real Deal

Aerial view of Chattanooga, Tennessee with a colorful sunset sky.

Housing Toolkit Promotes ‘Infill Micro-Housing’

A report developed for Chattanooga and Hamilton County outlines potential small housing types that could easily and affordably fit into existing neighborhoods.

August 23, 2024 - Congress For New Urbanism

White prison transport bus passing in front of heavily fortified prison fence with barbed wire.

Podcast: How the Housing Crisis Impacts People With Criminal Records

People with criminal convictions are 10 times as likely to become homeless as others. Small policy shifts could change that.

August 22, 2024 - Next City

Small ADU in backyard.

ADUs as Condos: What Does it Mean for Homeownership?

A California law that allows the sale of ADUs as condos may soon make homeownership more attainable.

August 22, 2024 - Jessica Brown

Close-up on the bottom half of people sitting in a hospital waiting room.

Maryland Assistance Program Links Housing and Healthcare

The state will begin funding an existing program that targets the healthcare needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

August 21, 2024 - Route Fifty

Aerial view of sprawling Las Vegas suburbs at golden hour with desert mountain in background.

Las Vegas Faces Opportunity to Stop Sprawl

Having sprawled for the past few decades, the Las Vegas region is bumping up against undevelopable federal lands. Those limits give it the chance to consider a denser, more urban future.

August 20, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Historic Victorian houses in San Jose, California.

San Jose Homeowners Can Now Sell ADUs as Condos

A new policy could help boost the supply of smaller, more affordable ‘starter homes’ in the first California city to legalize the sale of ADUs.

August 19, 2024 - San José Spotlight

Historic homes with intricate white trim on tree-lined street in Richmond, Virginia.

Property Taxes Cuts on the Ballot in at Least Eight States

From completely eliminating property tax to creating new exemptions, voters in eight states across the country will cast their votes on a variety of ballot measures that could have major implications for local budgets.

August 18, 2024 - Stateline

Nighttime view of blue and red lights on top of a white police car.

DOJ Issues Warning to Local Governments with 'Crime-Free' Housing Programs

The Justice Department has put local governments with “crime-free” and “nuisance” housing programs on notice that implementation may be unlawful when it unfairly penalizes classes of people protected under federal law.

August 16, 2024 - Oklahoma's News 4

Aerial view of dense housing in San Francisco Bay Area.

Affordable Housing Bond Nixed From the California Ballot

Supporters of the proposed bond say the measure will have more success in the future.

August 16, 2024 - Alameda Post

Aerial view of residential neighborhood on coast near Honolulu in Kahala, Oahu, Hawaii.

How Hawaii Can Make the Most of its ADU Law

The state recently legalized accessory dwelling units in residential districts, but there’s more state lawmakers can do to reduce other hurdles to large-scale ADU production.

August 15, 2024 - Niskanen Center

Aerial view of downtown Stockton, California with brick church in foreground.

Will This Resident Group Get Full Control of the Complex They Helped Fix?

A group of Cambodian immigrants took partial control of an affordable housing property in the 90s, and since then, they’ve made big changes to the complex. But they haven’t been able to get full legal control of the property for decades. Why?

August 15, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial view of suburban sprawl with large single-family homes near Dallas, Texas.

National Zoning Atlas Expands

The online tool can help city and state officials understand where zoning codes need reform and how they compare to other localities.

August 15, 2024 - Route Fifty

A new house is under construction with the walls and the roof installed but only the frames and trusses, respectively.

Feds Annouce $100 Million for Housing and Zoning Reform Programs

The program is aimed at helping local and state governments spur housing construction by reducing regulatory barriers.

August 14, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Bike parked on urban sidewalk with large street trees.

Sustainable Urban Design: A New Tool and Approach on The Talking Headways Podcast

Discover how the Sustainable Urban Design Framework helps planners create livable, sustainable communities. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon explores a new tool and book in the latest “Talking Headways” podcast.

August 14, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of coast in Maui, hawaii with hotels and condo buildings at sunrise or sunset.

Maui Condo Sales Drop as County Weighs Short-Term Rental Regulations

A proposed county bill would phase out some 7,000 short-term rental units.

August 13, 2024 - Maui Now

Tent City Bay Area

The Fight Continues Against Criminalization of Homelessness

Though disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing sleeping bans, homeless advocates are energized and organizing around other solutions.

August 13, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

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.