Housing
Millennials: They Came, They Saw... They Stayed?
According to Haya El Nasser, cities across America have succeeded in attracting young professionals for over a decade. “They came, they played, they stayed,” she writes. But, she asks, will these Millennials stick around as they age and have kids?
World's Tallest "Lego" Tower to Rise in Brooklyn
An agreement between Forest City Ratner and NYC's labor unions has cleared the way for the construction of Atlantic Yards's next phase. The 32-story prefabricated apartment building will be the tallest of its kind in the world, reports Matt Chaban.
The Most Expensive Family Housing in the USA
No other place even comes close for values of 4 bedroom, 2 bath single family homes. Five of the six priciest cities in the U.S. are located in Silicon Valley, with median home values ranging from $1.44 million to $1.7 million for #1 ranked Los Altos
Micro-Apartments Proposal Passes San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Don't call these modern apartments SROs - they go by 'micro-apartments', and they just received a significant approval, 375 of them, that is. One more step awaits: Mayor Ed Lee must give his blessing, and he appears rather non-committal.
Builders Respond to Desire for Multigenerational Homes
The new American household is much like the old multigenerational household that existed before World War II, recent population trends show. And builders are responding by offering "bonus" and "flex" rooms, while circumventing outdated zoning.
Urban Planning Becomes a Weapon in Syrian Civil War
It's still far from clear what the political outcome of Syria's civil war will be. But for the country's built environment, the effects are stunningly evident. Millions of buildings have been damaged or destroyed since March 2011.
High Density Means More Economic Growth and More Happiness, Too
Using new analysis of recent US Census data, Richard Florida demonstrates that “[c]ities and regions where density is more concentrated near their urban cores — appear to gain the biggest economic advantage.” That, and a tad more happiness.
The Cost of Exclusivity in Gated Communities
Gated communities such as Sea Gate in Brooklyn and Breezy Point in Queens "have long held the rest of the city at arm’s length." Following Hurricane Sandy, residents are now seeking financial assistance from the city to rebuild their homes.
Parking 'Surplus' Poses Problems For Brooklyn
Too much parking and too much transit creates a glut of unneeded parking. Of course, this is by design - that is, zoning design, where Downtown Brooklyn developers are required to accommodate new residents of their new buildings with large garages.
A Tiny-House Model Community Sprouts in D.C.
While cities like New York and San Francisco consider ways to incentivize the development of micro apartments, a Northeast Washington neighborhood has become home to an experiment in small house production.
Teaching Architects to Succeed While Serving the Public Interest
The Public Interest Design Institute encourages architects to embrace participatory approaches in design that address complex social needs; demonstrating that it's possible to "make a career as an architect serving those who need the most help."
How TODs Fared Through the Housing Crash
Transit-oriented developments multiplied and held their values comparatively well in the housing crisis. In this article, Josh Stephens explores whether the trend will continue post-recession, or if sprawl is poised for a comeback.
After the Storm, Public Housing Still Needs a Boost
The New York City Housing Authority is facing scrutiny after residents went almost a month without power, Nicole Anderson reports.
Fighting Homelessness, or Fighting the Homeless?
Martha Bridegam investigates the aftermath of a forced eviction at a homeless encampment in San Francisco. Do the homeless deserve to be criminalized?
Friday Funny: "Our House, in the Middle of Our Street"
In China, the concerns of the few are unlikely to stand in the way of progress for the many. This has been made abundantly clear in Zhejiang province where a new motorway has been built around the home of a couple that has refused to move.
Rising to the Real Challenge of Sandy
Michael Kimmelman takes a hard look at the political and bureaucratic obstacles that stand in the way of a forward-thinking approach to rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Miami's Real Estate Heats Up, Could a Thunderstorm Be Far Off?
Despite all odds, “Miami’s roller coaster real estate market is booming again” reports Nadja Brandt. Is "the hottest [residential] real estate market in the U.S." primed to boil over?
The Secret Plans for Containing New York's Next Housing Emergency
Hurricane Sandy exposed the need for New York City to be able to house large numbers of residents following natural disasters. Matt Chaban examines the Bloomberg administration's "secret" plan to build modular apartments out of shipping containers.
Wendell's World: In Housing, Supply Equals Demand
Is it really 2012? Maybe so, but Bill Fulton says Wendell Cox isn't living there -- at least based on his latest "analysis" of Southern California's housing trends.
How Can Architects Help in Disaster Relief?
Using post-Sandy New York as a case study, C.J. Hughes looks at the extent to which architects can be helpful in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.
Pagination
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.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association