Housing

View of New York City alleyway with outdoor restaurant seating and people walking between brick apartment buildings with fire escapes

Opinion: Why Environmentalists Should Support NYC ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform

The housing-oriented component of Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes proposal could serve the double purpose of making housing more affordable and reducing GHG emissions and car dependency.

April 30, 2024 - New York League of Conservation Voters

A Black couple holding contracts sits across the desk from a white mortgage lender.

Tenants and Home Buyers: Do You Know Your Fair Housing Rights?

Inconsistent application of fair housing laws across the country means tenants and home buyers of color and from other protected classes must educate themselves and be their own advocates.

April 29, 2024 - Defender

Aerial view of housing and freeway in Cupertino, California.

A Win for Single-Family Zoning in California

Five Southern California charter cities need not worry about lot splitting in their single-family zoned neighborhoods thanks to a Los Angeles County superior court ruling on April 22. Depending on a forthcoming ruling, 120 cities may join them.

April 29, 2024 - The Mercury News

Aerial view of Annapolis, Maryland with state capitol dome in foreground.

Maryland Housing Laws Address Housing Shortage, Establish Renter Protections

An ambitious housing package establishes a Renters Bill of Rights and removes barriers to increased housing production.

April 29, 2024 - Office of Governor Wes Moore

Houses on green hillside in Marin County, California

Judge's Ruling Deals Blow to California's Zoning Reform Law

Five California cities have won a lawsuit against the state over SB 9, a law passed in 2021 that effectively abolished single family zoning statewide.

April 29, 2024 - Marin Independent Journal

One-story bungalow court complex in Pasadena, California with leafy green palm trees.

LA Parking Reform is Bearing Fruit

Changes to minimum parking requirements near transit lines are spurring more residential development with little or no on-site parking.

April 28, 2024 - LAist

Close-up of electricity meter on house with sunset light in background.

Feds Issue New Energy Efficiency Standards for Affordable Housing

The new standards are expected to lower energy costs for low-income households.

April 28, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

The front of a purple and gray train running along track with a rail crossing signal on the right.

Second Massachusetts Town Spurns State TOD Zoning Mandate

Marshfield residents voted down a rezoning plan that would have met state requirements for the town to allow development of multifamily housing near MBTA stations.

April 28, 2024 - The Patriot Ledger

People gathered in front of US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

Will Supreme Court Case Lead to Lower Impact Fees — or Just More Studies?

Everybody seems to think that the recent case from California could lead to dramatically lower fees — and lower housing costs. But that's not what the court decided.

April 26, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Illustrated map of building plats

New York State Attorney General Calls Out Town for Potential Religious Land Use Discrimination

Hasidic Orthodox Jewish developers allege the town of Forestburgh, New York, altered zoning regulations to dissuade them from building homes on a site that had received previous approval under different ownership; state officials appear to agree.

April 26, 2024 - Times Union

Colorado State Capitol Building

Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD

The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.

April 25, 2024 - Colorado Public Radio

Grand Rapids Passes Zoning Reform Package

The new rules aim to make it easier to build small multifamily housing developments.

April 25, 2024 - M Live

Sunset view of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota skyline.

Minneapolis as a Model for Housing Affordability

Through a combination of policies, the city has managed to limit the severity of the nationwide housing crisis.

April 24, 2024 - Brown Political Review

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises

Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.

April 23, 2024 - The Seattle Times

Aerial view of gold state capitol dome in Denver, Colorado and Denver skyline.

Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions

In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.

April 23, 2024 - Colorado Politics

Three people, one in fatigues and hard hat, standing in front of bulldozer discussing relocation plans in Newtok, Alaska.

Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation

The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.

April 23, 2024 - Alaska Public Media

Aerial view of mid-rise brick buildings in Portland, Maine on waterfront.

Maine Approves Rent Relief Program

Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.

April 23, 2024 - The Portland Press Herald

Facade of brick multistory apartment buildings in New York City with fire scapes.

New York Passes Housing Package Focused on New Development and Adaptive Reuse

The FY 2025 budget includes a new tax incentive, funding for affordable housing on state land, and support for adaptive reuse and ADUs.

April 23, 2024 - Governor Kathy Hochul

Ohio state capitol dome against dramatic lightly cloudy sky.

Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production

A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.

April 19, 2024 - Daytona Daily News

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

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New York City School Construction Authority

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