Housing

Explained: the Power and Potential of Community Land Trusts

A clear, detailed explanation of community land trusts—a growing model for retaining affordable housing and neighborhood character in the face of gentrification pressures.

July 8, 2015 - The Atlantic

Suing for the 'Civil Right' to Develop Housing

A developer is claiming that the New Jersey borough of Upper Saddle River violated its "civil rights" to provide housing in a New Jersey community.

July 7, 2015 - The Record

Wild Detroit

How Risky Lending Hollowed Out Detroit

Over one half of Detroit's foreclosed homes are blighted or abandoned. Buyers who purchased the homes for as little as $1 have little incentive to keep them in good shape—or pay taxes.

July 6, 2015 - The Detroit News

Surprise Survey Finding on Density in the Bay Area

San Francisco and the Bay Area, known for their exorbitant housing prices and not unrelated, strong NIMBY attitudes, could be softening their opposition toward increasing density in their neighborhoods.

July 6, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

New Orleans Aerial

New Orleans Public Housing in Decade-Long Stall

In the aftermath of Katrina, President Obama's Choice Neighborhoods initiative promised thousands of new affordable units. But so far the Housing Authority of New Orleans hasn't proved up to the task.

July 6, 2015 - Next City

California First: Carbon Fees Used to Fund Affordable, Transit-Oriented Housing

On June 29, the California Strategic Growth Council awarded $121.9 million in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds to help build 28 affordable housing developments on major transit lines. Funding originates from proceeds of the cap-and-trade market.

July 6, 2015 - PR Newswire

No Luxury Condos

Unpacking the Idea 'More Housing Equals Lower Prices'

It makes economic sense: increase supply in desirable areas to match demand. These articles look at some of the factors complicating that story in on the west coast.

July 4, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

San Bernardino Skyline

The Tragedy of San Bernardino

The focal point of California's vast Inland Empire, the suburban city of San Bernardino was brought to its knees by the Great Recession. Its civic bankruptcy and its emergence as a suburban slum is perhaps America's most tragic story of urban sprawl.

July 4, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Children Playing

How to Keep Young Families from Fleeing to the Suburbs

Millennials are loving their center cities these days, with their lofts and bars and yoga studios. But what happens when Millennials start to have families and don't quite fit, physically or culturally, into city life anymore?

July 3, 2015 - Next City

Sicily Village

The Ultimate Revitalization Scheme: Free Homes

Though it's as picturesque as a place can be, the central Sicilian town of Gangi is a shell of its former self. To attract new residents, the town is offering homes for free on the condition that they be restored to their former glory.

July 3, 2015 - New York Times

Suburbia

American Suburbia Transplanted to Beijing

Chinese and Indian cities have been quick to welcome housing developments modeled on North American suburbs, including "Orange County" and "Vancouver Forest" in Beijing. This globalized sprawl perpetuates all the ills of our own.

June 30, 2015 - The City Fix

Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami's Lack of Height Limits Credited with Affordability Improvements

An article in Governing argues that increased housing supply in Bricknell has helped keep down the costs of housing in adjacent neighborhoods like Overtown and Little Havana.

June 29, 2015 - Governing

Rental Construction

Sunday Funday: Game Simulates the Development Experience

Even though it's simplified, Inside the Rent provides a window into the logic of developers trying to get apartments built in New York City. The game's creators emphasize its educational value.

June 28, 2015 - Curbed NY

Where Rents Have Increased Most in New York

It might come as a surprise, but Harlem is the neighborhood with the biggest increase in rents since 2002—a stunning 90 percent increase according to recent analysis.

June 25, 2015 - Gothamist

Supreme Court Upholds 'Disparate Impact' in Key Fair Housing Decision

A highly anticipated Supreme Court ruling on the concept of "disparate impact" at the heart of the Fair Housing Act.

June 25, 2015 - CityLab

To Auction or Not? Philadelphia Proceeds with Tax Lien Auction Despite Criticism

In an ongoing effort to turn around its stock of vacant, tax delinquent properties, the city of Philadelphia will send some 1,400 liens to auction.

June 25, 2015 - NewsWorks

Construction

Harvard Report: U.S. Housing Recovery Losing Momentum

The State of the Nation's Housing, a closely watched report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, was released to the public today.

June 24, 2015 - Joint Center for Housing Studies

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Philadelphia's Rowhouse Remedy for Gentrification

Blessed with an innate resilience, Philadelphia's brick rowhouses risk disrepair and redevelopment. Local nonprofits are looking for ways to keep this resource equitable.

June 24, 2015 - Next City

Seattle Mixed Use Development

Seattle NIMBYs Protest Dense Development, Cite Eastern Bloc

A zoning bill has stirred up the fear that dense development projects will transform Seattle into a "Soviet cityscape." Residents accuse developers of using loopholes to squeeze in pricey, out-of-character townhomes.

June 23, 2015 - The Seattle Times

trax light rail train in foreground, snow-covered mountains in background

Affordable Housing Follows Good Transit

More raw housing stock is only the first step. Without comprehensive transit, the value of density can't extend beyond the city center.

June 22, 2015 - Grist

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.