Housing

Row of large multistory homes with multilevel porches on the front and a bike lane on the street in front of them.

Washington State Legislates Statewide Cohousing Development

The new law will prevent local governments from prohibiting the development of coliving multifamily development through zoning and other regulations.

April 4, 2024 - Spokesman-Review

Aerial view of Burlington, Vermont in fall.

Burlington Approves Middle Housing Zoning Reform

The Vermont city will allow larger residential buildings and adjust other requirements to spur more ‘missing middle housing’ development.

April 4, 2024 - Vermont Public

Four-story apartment building with gabled roofs.

Feds Cap Rent Raises on Subsidized Housing

Owners of affordable housing developments that take advantage of federal tax incentives will be barred from raising rents more than 10 percent per year.

April 3, 2024 - Reuters

Boston city skyline

Land Trusts Preserve Affordability, but for Whom?

An analysis of buildings bought by the city for a community land trust in Boston reveals that many prior residents were evicted just before the sales.

April 3, 2024 - Next City

Multistory buildings under construction in a dense city with cranes.

Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development

Rapidly rising insurance premiums are forcing affordable housing developers to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even sell. To add insult to injury, some insurers also seem to be adding penalties or withdrawing coverage for housing voucher holders.

April 3, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Homeless Camp

San Jose Is Training AI to Identify Homeless Camps

Images captured on cameras mounted on a municipal vehicle are being used to train a private technology companies’ AI algorithm to detect tents and signs of habitation in vehicles.

April 2, 2024 - The Guardian

Row of colorful mobile homes on an asphalt street.

Out-of-State Investors Buying Up More Mobile Home Parks

In a trend that has accelerated since the pandemic, over one in five mobile home parks in Maine are owned by out-of-state investors.

April 2, 2024 - Bangor Daily News

Riverside, California

How Persuasive Are Arguments Against Statewide Zoning Reform?

A leading scholar of state and local government argues that local governments’ need to regulate business should take priority over the state and national interests in lowering housing costs. Are his assumptions persuasive?

March 31, 2024 - Michael Lewyn

Single-Family Housing Construction

Understanding Affordable Housing Lingo

20 key terms in the affordable housing discussion.

March 29, 2024 - Multi-Housing News

Aerial view of high-rise buildings on waterfront in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Moves Zoning Reform Forward

The ‘Squares + Streets’ plan creates form-based zoning templates for neighborhoods that promote mixed use and denser housing near transit.

March 29, 2024 - The National Law Review

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28, 2024 - Anchorage Daily News

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28, 2024 - CBS News

ROwn of grey and white townhomes with gabled roofs and front porches.

Why Parking Reform Goes Hand in Hand With More Housing

To achieve the full benefits of ‘missing middle housing’ and make way for small-lot construction, cities must rethink parking mandates.

March 27, 2024 - Sightline

Three small tents set up on sidewalk under overpass in Miami, Florida.

Florida Passes Outdoor Sleeping Ban

Florida is the latest state to pass legislation barring unhoused people from sleeping or camping on public property.

March 27, 2024 - USA Today

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

View of Seattle skyline on clear sunny day with Space Needle on left and Mount Rainier in the background.

Deconstructing Office-to-Residential Conversions in Seattle

In a two-part inquiry in GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe looks at clearing the path to office-to-residential conversions and the complex path beyond.

March 25, 2024 - GeekWire

View down Pennsylvania Avenue from above with Capitol dome in background.

Draft Plan Takes Aim at Downtown DC Revitalization

The plan calls for policies that support adaptive reuse, new housing construction, and improved public parks and facilities.

March 25, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Trenton, New Jersey with gold state capitol down in foreground and golden hour sky.

New Jersey Law Clarifies Local Housing Needs

Cities will be required to submit plans for creating sufficient affordable housing under a new state law.

March 25, 2024 - Route Fifty

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

March 22, 2024 - Associated Press via Yahoo News

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.