Housing

Neighborhood Polarization in a Canadian City

In Canadian cities, rising income inequality has been reflected in neighborhood polarization. The experience of Hamilton, Ontario, has been typical. Here, inner-city decline is now giving way to gentrification, displacing poverty to the suburbs.

November 4, 2015 - Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership

Stockton Foreclosure

The New Landscape of the Housing Crisis

The housing crisis that made headlines during the Great Recession is proving far more persistent than the common narrative about over-priced coastal market allows. A new report by the Center for American Progress uncovers the facts on the ground.

November 3, 2015 - The Atlantic

Lombard Street San Francisco

Housing and Tech Industry Showdown on the San Francisco Ballot

In tomorrow's citywide election, San Francisco voters are faced with a suite of ballot propositions essentially offering a referendum on hot button issues like gentrification, neighborhood character, and supply vs. demand.

November 2, 2015 - The New York Times

Skytrain Over Parking Lot, Surrey Central

Parking Requirements at TOD Projects Remain Stubbornly Out of Sync

Transit Oriented Development projects around the country are still facing suburban-style parking requirements.

October 30, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

West Philly Gentrification

New Research on Gentrification

Describing the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's recent study on gentrification in that city.

October 30, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Republican debate

What Does the Upcoming Presidential Election Mean for HUD?

An op-ed explains the significance of the 2016 presidential election for the political clout of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Those supporting the agenda of HUD, according to this argument, should be wary of a Republican victory.

October 29, 2015 - Edward Poteat

Shotgun Homes, New Orleans

New Orleans Holding Out Hope HOME Program is Spared in Budget Fights

With Congressional budget negotiations ongoing in Washington, New Orleans home builders, policy makers, and low-income residents are hoping that the HOME Investment Partnership program comes out unscathed.

October 29, 2015 - The Times-Picayune

Poor Door

Op-Ed: Why Cities Need the 'Poor Door'

Drawing on a distinction between equality and equity, Rick Jacobus argues that so-called 'poor doors' are a necessary compromise to promote affordable housing and neighborhood integration.

October 29, 2015 - Rooflines

Downtown Houston

Re-Evaluating Houston's Downtown Living Initiative

Like many other cities, Houston was looking for ways to bring more residents to Downtown. The Downtown Living Initiative has worked well—but will it leave some populations behind?

October 28, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Car Bike Lane

Bicyclists and Sunday Drivers Clash in DC

To some, a protected bike lane saves lives; to others, it threatens the survival of a community.

October 27, 2015 - The Washington Post

High Rise Construction

Supply, Demand, and Housing Prices, Part 2

Rebutting arguments against the law of supply and demand.

October 27, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Construction

The Hidden Costs of Building Green

New green buildings may be de riguer, but preservation does less harm.

October 26, 2015 - Boston Society of Architects

A Tale of Two Chelseas

The neighborhood of Chelsea in Manhattan, location of the High Line and one of the hottest real estate markets in the city, provides a case study of the wealth gap, with each side living in close proximity.

October 25, 2015 - The New York Times

A Super Energy-Efficient Home for the Alaskan Frontier

An engineer from Fairbanks, Alaska, has built a house that is "kept toasty without fossil fuels and uses a mere fraction of the energy typically needed, even at 30 below."

October 23, 2015 - Alaska Dispatch News

Debunking the Data Behind Seattle's 'Explosion of Demolitions'

According to an article by The Urbanist, some Seattle publications might have been caught telling people what they want to hear, rather than offering clear perspective on the building trends of the city.

October 22, 2015 - The Urbanist

Portland Maine

Portland, Maine Approves Inclusionary Zoning

The latest city to implement mandatory inclusionary zoning: Portland, Maine. The City Council decision contradicted the Planning Board's recommendation.

October 22, 2015 - Portland Press Herald

Survey: Residents of Public Housing Don't See the Benefits of Gentrification

Conventional planning think says that mixed-income development benefits low-income neighborhoods. But a survey finds that residents of public housing in New York don't agree—rather, they feel left behind by newcomers to the neighborhood.

October 21, 2015 - New York Daily News

Seattle Apartments

Advocates Push for Affordable Housing on Dormant Public Property

Affordable housing advocates are pushing the city to use underutilized city owned property to build more housing, but it doesn't always pencil out.

October 21, 2015 - Seattle Times

Portland Struggling with the Politics of Affordable Housing Funds

A decision about how to fund the city of Portland's approach to a worsening affordable housing problem has taken longer than expected.

October 19, 2015 - The Oregonian

Brownstone brownhome

The Conflicting Goals of America's Housing Policy

Current housing policies at the local and national level have tried to make housing more affordable while at the same time increasing the value of homes, recognizing them as a personal investment.

October 18, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

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.