Housing

At a forum held last week, candidates to become L.A.'s next mayor outlined their approaches to tackling the city's most daunting housing challenges - from homelessness to the need for more affordable housing.

January 14, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Hampton Court, a luxury apartment bldg in Manhattan, had two challenges to overcome in attracting tenants - being located in East Harlem and its distance from the Lexington Ave. subway line. An 'amenity' - a shuttle to the subway - proved the answer.

January 9, 2013 - The New York Times - Real Estate

A new report released by Smart Growth America evaluates the federal government's influence on America's real estate sector. With $450 billion in subsidies per year, it's clear "the communities we’ve constructed weren’t built on market demand alone."

January 8, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

After the city rezoned Williamsburg, affordable housing was supposed to be built on the grounds of a NYCHA project there. Seven years later, ground has not been broken.

January 8, 2013 - The Brooklyn Bureau

Declining rental vacancy rates and increased interest in urban living are putting upwards pressure on housing prices throughout the country. But 2012 wasn't all bad news for attempts to retain and expand affordable housing in American cities.

January 7, 2013 - Rooflines

In Hong Kong, new government policies to curb real estate speculation in housing markets have led investors to turn elsewhere for quick, lucrative profits - the market for parking spaces.

January 5, 2013 - Los Angeles Times - Business

New findings published by Trulia, the real estate website, show the connection between home values and road names. "Boulevard" carries the most cache, and "street" the least, reports Lew Sichelman.

January 3, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

With rental vacancy rates declining across America, the expansion of rent control policies may seem like a logical solution for protecting vulnerable renters from fast rising prices. But Peter Tatian argues there's little evidence that it works.

January 3, 2013 - Metro Trends

In a photo essay on small homes and the people who love them, Sightline Fellow Alyse Nelson explains the attraction of compact living and the ways in which small homeowners are living it up by scaling down.

January 3, 2013 - Sightline Daily

Richard Blackwell examines the foundations of Canada's housing "affordability crisis," in which prices have doubled over the last decade due to low rates and easy mortgage terms.

January 2, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

We've known for decades the better ways to do things, for greater urban health, sustainability, resiliency, vibrancy and economic success. So this year, let's resolve to have the will and skill to get past the short-term politics, the rhetoric, the market momentum, and the financial self-interest that has kept our better solutions from being realized.

December 31, 2012 - Brent Toderian

A decade ago, a landmark study proposed alley-side infill development, or laneway housing, as a way to provide Toronto with thousands of affordable units. Despite significant obstacles, some developers and architects remain committed to the idea.

December 28, 2012 - The Toronto Star

In Los Angeles, the Skid Row Housing Trust is breaking past precedent by building modular, but vibrant, housing aimed at emulating city-life; giving residents a sense of community, and a new lease on life.

December 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Homeowners have been downsizing their homes in the last five years, but now 84 percent of homeowners want to stay put or move into a larger home. This change in trend can be attributed to growing families and their need for more living space.

December 22, 2012 - CNBC

What a difference a year makes! In 2011, 269 new housing units were added while over 4,220 new housing units are now under construction. Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR), explains.

December 21, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

South Front, in Wilmington, NC, made use of an abandoned and decayed, 40s-era public housing project, salvaging and renovating every building rather than scraping the site. Scott Doyon talks about several of the reasons that's cool.

December 21, 2012 - PlaceShakers

A report released this week by the U.S. EPA finds that 71 percent of the country's large metro regions saw an increase in the development of infill housing over the latter half of the last decade. Greenfield development still dominates, however.

December 21, 2012 - EPA

Developers in Seattle have been building ultra-compact apartments to provide alternatives to high housing prices. But these "aPodments," which take advantage of loopholes in codes, could bring negative consequences with the large increase in density.

December 18, 2012 - Grist

How might planners advance the dialogue with politicians and citizens for design that supports the 633,782 homeless people in the US? Howard Blackson offers some insights for San Diego, the 3rd largest population of homeless among US cities.

December 17, 2012 - PlaceShakers

In Detroit's downtown and midtown neighborhoods, 96 percent of rental apartments are occupied by young professionals, students and empty nesters. The city now faces the problem of meeting the high demand for urban living, reports Susan Stellin.

December 14, 2012 - The New York Times