Housing

Aerial view of mid-rise apartment buildings in Seattle.

Landlords Fined for First Time Under WA’s New Law Capping Rent Increases

For the first time, Washington’s attorney general has enforced the state’s new cap on rent hikes, fining eight landlords $2,000 each for violating the law.

August 11, 2025 - Washington State Standard

Sun rising over downtown Los Angeles with tall palm trees visible in foreground. Image is bright orange-red indicating extreme heat.

LA County Adopts Maximum Indoor Temperature Ordinance to Protect Renters from Extreme Heat

LA County has adopted an ordinance capping indoor temperatures in rental units at 82 degrees Fahrenheit in unincorporated areas, aiming to protect renters from extreme heat while providing phased compliance and support for small landlords.

August 10, 2025 - Random Lengths News

Chart of the home price index from the State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 report.

Harvard’s 2025 State of Housing Report: Five Key Findings

Housing affordability is at historic lows, and more renters than ever struggle to keep up with housing costs, even as federal support for housing programs is waning.

August 7, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Heavy smoke from Palisades Fire burning in hillsides with homes with downtown Los Angeles visible in background.

Palisades Homeowners Barred From Rebuilding With Duplexes

The California governor and L.A. mayor issued identical executive orders banning multi-family development in areas destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

August 6, 2025 - Reason

Connecticut state capitol with gold dome in Hartford, CT.

Connecticut Governor Rejects Trump Homelessness Order

Gov. Lamont — who vetoed a highly anticipated pro-housing bill in June — says his state will not criminalize homelessness or force the institutionalization of unhoused people.

August 6, 2025 - WSHU

Front view of Art Deco 1933 Los Angeles County General Hospital building

Revitalizing LA’s Historic General Hospital

Los Angeles County is transforming its historic General Hospital into a mixed-use community with housing, healthcare, and green space — an ambitious project aimed at revitalizing underserved neighborhoods while preserving a cultural landmark.

August 5, 2025 - CoStar News

Downtown Omaha, Nebraska skyline at dusk.

Omaha Mayor’s Proposal Would Build 1,900 New Housing Units Along Streetcar Line

Mayor Ewing introduced a new plan that would allow the city to begin distributing affordable housing financing as early as next year.

August 5, 2025 - Nebraska Examiner

Single-family homes with green lawns in suburban Princeton, Texas.

To Sprawl or Not to Sprawl: But Is That the Question?

As a debate rages in mainstream media about whether or not America should sprawl, a housing researcher says that's the wrong question. We need to do both.

August 5, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Homes destroyed by Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California.

What Housing Crisis?

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order that prohibits the construction of duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes from replacing single-family-homes destroyed by the recent wildfires in Pacific Palisades, i.e., the suspension of SB 9.

August 4, 2025 - LAist

Aerial view of Cedar Viaduct under construction for California high-speed rail train in Fresno, California.

July Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

California loses high-speed rail funding, rural Texas hospitals risk closure, and housing advocates warn that a proposed DC law would disproportionately harm Black residents.

August 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Row of newly constructed green two-story townhomes.

Proposed ‘ROAD to Housing’ Bill Tackles Housing Affordability

The bill is a bipartisan effort in the Senate to ease regulations for housing development and reward cities and states that support pro-housing policies.

July 31, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Google Street View of former JFK Hilton Hotel in Jamaica, Queens.

First NYC Hotel Conversion Completes Construction

A 2021 state law aimed at promoting hotel conversions has had a rocky start, only now yielding its first completed project.

July 31, 2025 - City Limits

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Vision for the Future: LA County Releases Draft Sustainability Plan

Los Angeles County has released the draft 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan — shaped by community input — and is inviting public feedback through August 22 to help guide the County’s path toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.

July 29, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Aerial view of San Fernando, California.

Honoring Elders: California Tribe Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing

The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians is launching its first senior housing project in Los Angeles County, creating 26 affordable units to serve Native elders and address longstanding housing inequities.

July 29, 2025 - Tribal Business News

View of dense San Diego neighborhood with multi-family buildings.

Which San Diego County Cities Are Building New Housing?

Chula Vista permitted the most new housing units per capita, while El Cajon is adding the least.

July 29, 2025 - Voice of San Diego

Small green house on unfinished lot with red earthmover and workers in front yard.

Kentucky Nonprofits Build ‘Higher Ground’ Homes

After destructive floods displaced thousands of Kentucky families, developers are building climate-resilient homes away from flood-prone areas.

July 29, 2025 - Kentucky Lantern

Row of colorful two-story brick residential buildings in Washington, D.C. with U.S. flags hanging from doorways.

Report: Proposed DC RENTAL Law Would Harm Black and Low-Income Residents

The proposal would speed up evictions, eliminate some protections for tenants, and exempt buildings from a law that requires tenants have first right of purchase.

July 29, 2025 - Washington Citypaper

Historic Victorian homes in Huntington Beach, California with tall palm trees on a sunny day.

One Fifth of California Homes Owned by Investors

The state mirrors a national trend of investors buying up housing to rent.

July 28, 2025 - OC Register

Department of Housing and Urban Development building in Washington, D.C. Concrete Brutalist high-rise.

Analysis: Federal Budget Guts Housing Programs

Despite a small increase in the low-income housing tax incentive, deep cuts to other federal housing programs will likely exacerbate the housing crisis.

July 28, 2025 - Shelterforce

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Data: Rent Dropping in ‘Pro-Housing’ Cities

Zoning deregulation seems to be having a strong impact on rent prices in some of the nation’s largest cities.

July 28, 2025 - Reason

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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