Housing

Boston Zoning Commission to Consider ‘Squares and Streets’ Plan
The proposal would reduce barriers to the development of denser housing.

Supreme Court to Reconsider Martin v. Boise
The justices agreed to hear an appeal from the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, of a 2022 U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that has the potential to loosen restrictions on how nine Western states deal with tent encampments on public property.

Portland Council to Consider Zoning Amendments
The proposed zoning and land use changes would offer bigger incentives for developers of ‘moderately priced’ housing and relax some restrictions that builders say drive up the cost of construction.

LA ‘Mansion Tax’ Yielding Less Revenue Than Predicted
The tax on property sales above $5 million has brought in less revenue last year than experts projected, but the measure could still become a significant contributor to affordable housing funds.

UC Berkeley Says Supportive Housing ‘Inseparable’ Part of People’s Park Project
The park remains closed to the public as a court weighs a decision on the university’s proposed housing development.

Colorado Lawmakers Renew Zoning Reform Efforts
The state legislature will consider a package of land use laws aimed at increasing the housing supply and reducing housing costs.

Homeownership Increasingly Out of Reach
From the United States to the United Kingdom, housing costs are eating up a larger percentage of household income.

Home Insurance Increasingly Unaffordable or Inaccessible
Homeowners in places at risk for wildfires and other disasters find it harder than ever to secure an affordable insurance policy as companies leave some states altogether.

Affordable Housing, Defined
Some experts say the metric used to define the housing cost burden is outdated and no longer reflects the reality of household needs.

California Churches Embrace New Housing Law
The bill known as ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ promotes affordable housing construction on church properties.

Zoning Reform Is Working in Minneapolis
The city has grown its housing stock and limited rent cost increase to just 1 percent.

Opinion: Affordable Housing Key Component of Economic Strategy
As the Richmond area grows, having a greater availability of affordable housing could be crucial to maintaining a strong local workforce.

The Symbiotic Relationship of Housing and Transit
Building more housing near transit can improve housing affordability and boost ridership on struggling systems.

School Districts Invest in Workforce Housing
With teacher salaries failing to keep up with housing costs, some districts are building housing to keep their employees.

How New California Housing Laws Will Impact Renters
Laws going into effect this year will affect regulations around security deposits, credit checks, and even e-scooters.

More Cities, States Criminalizing Homelessness
As the number of unhoused Americans grows, some jurisdictions are going against the advice of advocates and imposing harsh penalties for sleeping in public spaces.

Washington State Legislature Could Continue Housing Reforms in 2024
2023 saw some victories and some setbacks for housing advocates. Lawmakers plan to continue the fight in 2024.

Austin Rents Fall as Apartment Construction Accelerates
As more multifamily developments become available and the tech job boom slows, Austin is seeing more affordable rents than a year ago, but costs remain above pre-pandemic levels.

Virginia Adopts Modular Building Standards
The regulations could help lower the cost of off-site housing production.

Commentary: We Need to Build for Disaster, Not Simply Focus on Recovery
As the frequency and severity of weather events increases, building codes need to be adjusted to include resilience principles.
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