Housing

Houston Townhouse

The Typology That Houstonians Love To Hate

Townhouses have been growing like kudzu in Houston over the past few years as the uber-sprawling city has finally started to fill in and become more dense. Locals hate them, but there's beauty to be found in efficient land use.

August 18, 2016 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

Gentrification Concerns Sink Inclusionary Housing Development Proposal in Manhattan

Several publications were reporting the expected defeat of a proposed development project in Manhattan this week. The 15-story project was the first private application of the city's new Mandatory Inclusionary Housing policy.

August 17, 2016 - Politico New York

Could an Anti-Homelessness Program Stabilize Affordable Housing?

Periodically in the affordable housing world, a few of us acknowledge that the vast majority of low-income people live in unsubsidized rentals in one- to four-unit buildings, and we wonder how to preserve and improve those units. Here is a way.

August 17, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

McMansion

How McMansions Fail Basic Architectural Concepts

A "McMansion 101" post for those who wish to arm themselves with studied arguments against this popular style of residential construction.

August 16, 2016 - McMansion Hell

Vancouver

Former Vancouver Mayor: Development Politics Equals 'Generational Warfare'

Former Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan put out a call to action, so to speak, in the hopes of energizing younger Canadians to respond to the entrenched interests of older generations.

August 15, 2016 - The Province

In 2016, Legal Battle Lines Are Drawn in the Back Yard

The legal, and social, challenges to building more second units in Los Angeles.

August 14, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Bronx Apartments

The Gap Between the Cost of Housing and the Wages of Workers in 8 U.S. Cities

It's not just New York and San Francisco—many professions don't offer enough wages to afford an apartment at today's prices.

August 14, 2016 - Housing Perspectives

Gowanus

Neighborhoods Push for Benefits in New York Zoning Plan

The Brooklyn neighborhood of Gowanus was recently added to Mayor de Blasio’s sweeping zoning reform plan. But Gowanus also has plans of its own.

August 14, 2016 - New York Times

Texas Homes

Houston Real Estate Slumping Along with the Oil Industry

The Houston Chronicle investigates the Houston-Area real estate market, finding signs of the oil slump's effect on a formerly hot market.

August 13, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Seattle

Debating Seattle's Growth

There's plenty to talk about in a city where rents have increased by 51 percent since 2010.

August 12, 2016 - Publicola

Manhattan Skyline

Chinese Investment in U.S. Real Estate Slows

As more constraints are put on cash outflows by the Chinese government, Chinese investors are slowing their spending spree on U.S. real estate.

August 12, 2016 - Bloomberg

Tiny House

Friday Funny: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Tiny Houses

The satirical site The Onion took a break from a busy week lampooning the Olympics to sets its sights on the tiny house movement.

August 12, 2016 - The Onion

1 in 5 Americans Now Living in Multi-Generational Households

The number of Americans living in multi-generational households is approaching levels not seen since the 1950s.

August 11, 2016 - Pew Research Center

Brisbane, CA

Opposition to Bay Area Housing Exposed

A 660-acre Bay Area brownfield served by commuter and light rail is the latest battleground between suburban communities intent on preserving open space and quality of life and meeting the Bay Area's unmet housing demand.

August 11, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Stanley Park Vancouver

5 Goals for Vancouver's New Chief Planner

Vancouver has a new chief planner, and a former chief planner already has a to-do list for the new guy.

August 11, 2016 - Daily Hive

Small Lot

Changes to Los Angeles' Small Lot Ordinance on the Way

Responding to criticism from neighborhoods faced with new small lot developments, the city of Los Angeles in considering changes to its Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance.

August 11, 2016 - The Eastsider LA

New Orleans

New Orleans Planning Commission Recommends Limits for Short-Term Rentals

The New Orleans City Council must still approve regulations for short-term rentals, but the Planning Commission has spoken.

August 10, 2016 - The Times-Picayune

Rental Apartments

Spiting Mandatory Inclusionary Housing to Save Mandatory Inclusionary Housing

The question of whether New York City's new mandatory inclusionary housing policy should apply to a 17-story project in Manhattan could have wide-ranging implications.

August 10, 2016 - The New York Times

The Mission

Supervisor Calls for Halt to Construction in San Francisco's Mission District

The ghosts of the Mission Moratorium have returned to San Francisco, after a local supervisor has called for a halt to three projects while the city crafts legislation to regulate development in the neighborhood.

August 9, 2016 - Mission Local

New York Apartments

One Fourth of East Harlem Housing Set to Lose Affordability

The area could lose up to 500 units of affordable housing every year for the next 30 years if the city doesn't extend existing protections.

August 9, 2016 - Regional Plan Association

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.