Housing

Like many cities around the country, Portland, Maine is faced with rising costs for housing as demand outpaces supply.

July 23, 2016 - Island Institute

Homeownership is often promoted as a way for low-income and minority families to build wealth. But it is those very families who assume the most risk in buying a house.

July 22, 2016 - City Observatory

The number of inclusionary zoning programs is growing quickly around the country. A recent study by the National Housing Conference takes stock of this prominent affordable housing tool.

July 21, 2016 - American Planning Association

A recent study by Trulia concentrates on elasticity (i.e., the rate at which housing stock grows, relative to demand), and arrives at the conclusion that bureaucracy, not regulation, is responsible for rising housing prices.

July 21, 2016 - Trulia

A new paper studies the impacts both of specific land use regulations and land use regulations in the aggregate.

July 21, 2016 - Market Urbanism

When the state allowed the 421-a tax abatement program to expire in January, the city of New York lost a key tool for development in the city. Now scuttled developments are blaming their demise on the lack of 421-a.

July 21, 2016 - DNAInfo

Tesla's 7kWh lithium-ion Powerwall batteries come standard in every house in the planned community of YarraBend. The community is billed as the "suburb of the future."

July 20, 2016 - RenewEconomy

The most dense neighborhood in Manhattan is surprisingly low-key.

July 20, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

It's been 20 years since the city of Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics. The city's National Public Radio station is exploring the legacy of the games.

July 20, 2016 - WABE

Dave Biggs interviews author James Hoggan about his new book, "I'm Right and You're An Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean It Up."

July 19, 2016 - Dave Biggs

An annual report analyzing the "State of the City" speeches of 100 mayors finds remarkable consistency in messaging.

July 19, 2016 - Next City

Portland's City Council has sided with housing advocates against neighborhood groups who wanted new developments to include parking spaces.

July 18, 2016 - Willamette Week

The Pennsylvania Governors Office announced that eight developers were awarded a total $9.3M in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to build 495 affordable housing units in the city of Philadelphia.

July 15, 2016 - Curbed Philadelphia

Zoning for new housing supply isn't the answer to Vancouver's housing affordability crisis, according to an editorial in the Vancouver Sun. In fact, it might only be making the problem worse.

July 15, 2016 - Vancouver Sun

Clocking in at less than 500 square feet, tiny houses are in greater and greater demand. They've been touted as a means to address affordability, inequality, homelessness, and environmental concerns. But regulatory issues are holding them back.

July 14, 2016 - Pew Charitable Trusts

The "housing first" approach to homelessness is building a track record of success in Milwaukee.

July 13, 2016 - Urban Milwaukee

Reports about the decision by the Anaheim City Council to ban all short-term rentals, through companies like Airbnb or VRBO, described it as a victory for homeowners.

July 12, 2016 - CBS Los Angeles

Around two-thirds of Baby Boomers in metropolitan areas live in the suburbs. But as they age, suburbia seems less and less hospitable.

July 11, 2016 - RenewATL

Is Airbnb a prime target for regulation, or is it just another way to expand the marketplace for bedrooms? Dan Bertolet urges caution. After all, couldn't less Airbnb just mean more hotels?

July 11, 2016 - Sightline Institute

Americans have shown a clear preference for larger homes—even at the expense of the coveted backyard.

July 11, 2016 - The Boston Globe