Housing
July’s Must Reads: Top 10 Articles from Last Month
In case you missed them, here were the biggest urban planning news items, features, and blogs from last month, including 15 new Amtrak routes, Florida’s EV law, California’s rail update, fare-free buses in Tucson, and more.
Beating Extreme Heat Through Community Efforts
U.S. cities don't provide residents with enough protection against heat, the deadliest weather-related killer in the world. In New York City, one organization came together to distribute ACs to neighbors in need.
A Place to Recover from Illness: How Medical Respite Programs Help Unhoused People Heal
For people experiencing homelessness, recuperating after a hospitalization is difficult. Medical respite programs can help. Why aren't they more common?
The Challenges of Building Middle-Income Housing
An affordable housing developer explains the hurdles to building more housing for middle-income households.
ADU Construction Flourishing in Los Angeles County
The boom is happening in some unexpected areas.
‘Growing MKE’ Zoning Reform Plan Would Expand Milwaukee Housing Options
Proponents of the plan say the changes would help reverse decades of discriminatory housing policies.
Kissimmee Considering Garage Conversion Program
Homeowners could get city support for converting garages to residential units.
Colorado Church Fights for Right to Provide Housing
A church in Castle Rock, Colorado is suing the city, pointing out the lack of shelter options for unhoused residents in the area.
Big Island Airbnb Operators Call for Economic Impact Study
As the Hawai’i County Council debates new regulations governing short-term rentals, it is requesting a study on how the industry impacts local residents and businesses.
Nashville Zoning Reform Opens Commercial, Retail Zones to Housing
An ordinance expanding ‘adaptive residential development’ could lead to thousands of new housing units.
Milwaukee Could Impose Owner Occupancy Rules on Short-Term Rentals
The city could tighten regulations on short-term rentals, many of which remain unregistered despite rules requiring permits.
Expanding the Concept of Transit-Oriented Development: Lessons from Abroad
Keeping transit planning and development siloed can limit opportunities to build affordable housing and vibrant neighborhoods.
Study: ‘Sweeps’ Don’t Impact Homelessness
A study of three Los Angeles neighborhoods revealed that ‘cleanups’ of encampments don’t result in fewer people on the streets.
In Upstate New York, the Fight for ‘Good Cause’ Continues
This week, Ithaca became the latest city to opt into New York’s new Good Cause Eviction Law. What are tenant organizers doing to make the law work better for their communities?
San Diego’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance, One Year in
Since enacting a spate of regulations on short-term rentals, the city has removed over 7,000 illegal listings from online platforms.
Urban Planning in Lima, Peru
For some people, ‘urban planning’ and ‘Lima’ do not go together. In fact, the Peruvian capital effectively highlights various facets of the urban planning world.
Senate Bill Proposes Federal Antitrust Review for Institutional Housing Investors
The bill would require private equity and other corporate investors to report housing purchases to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice for antitrust review aimed at stopping anticompetitive transactions that would increase housing costs and push homeowners out of the market.
San Francisco Considers Nation’s First Ban on Rent-Setting Software
Property management software used by corporate landlords is under scrutiny for using algorithms populated by proprietary rental data to encourage their clients to collectively raise rents.
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Short-Term Rental Ordinance
A group of homeowners in Summit, Colorado, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a local ordinance imposing short-term rental license caps and annual booking limits is unlawful and violates their rights.
Albuquerque Moves to Close Alleyways to Deter Unhoused People
Cities around the country are enacting more restrictive regulations after the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of local governments in Grants Pass v. Johnson.
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.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
