Housing

Affordable Housing Laws At Risk in CA

The California Supreme Court has refused to re-hear a decision made by a lower court on affordable housing requirements, which may make such requirements throughout the state invalid.

December 1, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Redeveloping Open Space to Revive Housing Projects

Public housing projects have been a thorn in the paw of New York City for years. The city is trying to figure out what to do with the perennially problem-plagued housing projects. Some groups say redevelopment is the answer.

November 27, 2009 - City Limits

Front Yards Are For Lawns, Not Cars, City Says

Queens and Brooklyn homeowners may soon be prohibited from converting front yards into parking pads if a set of regulations is approved. The loss of street parking from new curb cuts was cited as a reason, along with aesthetics.

November 23, 2009 - New York Times-N.Y./Region (blog)

Living in 100 Square Feet

Photographer Michael Wolf visited Hong Kong's oldest public housing estate, and photographed 100 of the 100 ft. square rooms in the building.

November 22, 2009 - Michael Wolf Photography

Suburbs See Rise in Kids in Poverty

2008 Census estimates reveal that in the city center of Fort Worth, Texas, the number of school-age children living in poverty has dropped whereas the surrounding suburban communities have seen increasing numbers.

November 20, 2009 - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Huge San Francisco Redevelopment Project Underway

It's the largest redevelopment project since the great earthquake of 1906: 702 acres, 10,500 residential units, a shipyard brownfield cleanup, and a new stadium (hopefully) for the 49ers. The Environmental Impact Report has just been released.

November 19, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

The Remarkable Rezoning of NYC

Recently the NYC Planning Dept. announced its 100th rezoning since Bloomberg took office. This article takes a spin through the city's remarkable shift in the last 50 years away from industry to business and tourism and a sustainable approach.

November 16, 2009 - New York Observer

Extreme Makeover Makeover in Buffalo

The planning staff of Buffalo, NY lobbied ABC to bring their program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Buffalo - and change their suburban standards to New Urbanist ones.

November 16, 2009 - Buffalo Rising

Reconsidering the McMansion Business

Builders John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods, hit hard by the downturn, is meeting consumer price points by creating compact home designs instead of the 4,700 sq. ft. homes that were their bread and butter.

November 15, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

New London, Four Years After Kelo

The 2005 Supreme Court decision on Kelo v. New London was a landmark in eminent domain law, paving the way for Pfizer to develop there. Four years later, Pfizer is pulling up stakes.

November 13, 2009 - The Hartford Courant

FHA Feeling the Pinch

The Federal Housing Administration said today that its reserves are dwindling because of risky loans they insured and the drop in home prices.

November 13, 2009 - The New York Times

Can Homelessness be Designed Out?

Urban designers Terri Chiao and Deborah Grossberg Katz take on the problem of homelessness in New York proactively, rather than waiting for RFPs to come in.

November 12, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

The Solution for Homelessness? Homes.

Neal Peirce says that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel in the debate over homelessness, and a consensus that stopgaps don't work. The real answer is to, duh, give them homes.

November 6, 2009 - Citiwire.net

Boom in Utah Town

Growth is at a standstill in most western boomtowns, but not in well-planned, thriving South Jordan, UT. An expedited permitting process and good planning are given credit as catalysts for growth.

November 5, 2009 - Desert News

Vancouver Seeks to Avoid Tragedy, Make Shelters More Practical

Homeless people may avoid seeking help or services because there is a lack of space secure their belongings in shelters. The death of a homeless woman in Vancouver last winter highlights the severity of the problem.

November 4, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Seattle Approves Backyard Cottages

The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow owners of single family homes to construct additional cottage-like housing units on their property.

November 4, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Housing is Recovering - Will It Last?

Business Week looks at the recovering housing market, and believes that even though it was driven by massive government support there are signs that it might actually continue.

October 31, 2009 - Business Week

One Drug Hotel at a Time

British Columbia has converted nearly two dozen formerly notorious hotels into housing for the homeless.

October 30, 2009 - The Tyee

Coalition Promises $4 Billion to Green Affordable Housing

A collection of non-profits working with HUD is promising to spend $4 billion on updating affordable housing across the country to be more sustainable.

October 27, 2009 - Grist

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.

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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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