Housing

HUD Homeownership Program Shows Promise

An ambitious HUD program promoting homeownership in troubled neighborhoods is, by some accounts, "one of the more intelligent things HUD has done in its history."

March 26, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Second Homes Flood Rental Market

Owners of second homes are leaning harder on these properties to bring in income, but are finding the market for vacation rentals more complicated than it used to be.

March 23, 2009 - The New York Times

Canada's Housing Market Braces and Bends for Boomers

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age in Canada, nearly one out of five in the country will be retired within a decade. This coming retirement boom is already affecting the housing market, which many expect to change dramatically.

March 22, 2009 - The National Post

Is This London Project a Landmark, or Blight?

Robin Hood Gardens is a 70s era, Brutalist public housing complex. Preservationists say it is historic; the government wants to tear it down. Reporter Nicolai Ouroussoff pays the project a visit to determine for himself.

March 20, 2009 - The New York Times

Protecting Renters from the Foreclosure Crisis

Renters are the hidden victims of the foreclosure crisis: they are usually the last to know about foreclosure, have few resources to assist them and are being overlooked by federal interventions. But community organizers are fighting back.

March 20, 2009 - Dollars and Sense

Cleaning Out and Keeping Up Foreclosures

As foreclosures spread throughout California's Inland Empire, empty homes need to be cleaned and maintained. To meet the demand, an industry is rapidly expanding.

March 20, 2009 - The New York Times

Habitat Tears Down Shrinking City's Houses

Habitat for Humanity, known for building low-cost, affordable houses, has taken to deconstructing homes in Saginaw, MI. Reselling the materials and building smaller homes in their stead make more sense than rehabilitating an old house, they say.

March 19, 2009 - The New York Times

Public Housing Elevators Under Scrutiny

Records show that there have been about 300 injuries related to faulty New York public housing elevators since 2001. Ironically, a problem stemming from chronic underfunding has cost the Housing Authority $3.5 million in settlements over six years.

March 18, 2009 - The New York Times

Smaller House, Smaller Burden

Square footage is dropping in new homes, leading many experts to argue that the new face of American homes will be smaller and more economically sustainable.

March 18, 2009 - USA Today

Planner's Predictions Uncovered

Fifty years ago, Kenneth E. Norwood placed a time capsule and his predictions for Burbank, CA in a newly constructed bridge. According to the planner, monorails and "multi-unit garden apartments" were the waves of the future.

March 18, 2009 - Los Angeles Times Blog

Canada's "Dirty Secret": Subprime Loans

Its political and financial leaders have long insisted that Canada was insulated from an American-style subprime mortgage crisis. However, a Globe & Mail study reveals that western Canada is facing an "alarming" rate of foreclosures.

March 17, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

New Orleans Endangers Funds by Not Using Them

Senator Mary Landrieu has threatened to take away some of New Orleans' unused federal dollars if they remain so. Of the unspent $34 million allocated for low-income housing, $11 million will be lost if there are no projects by May 31.

March 13, 2009 - The Times-Picayune

New Urbanists 1, Sprawl 0

Fast Company blogger Michael Cannell says the economic crisis stands to make big winners out of the new urbanists.

March 13, 2009 - Fast Company

Housing on the Rise in American Metros

Cities are increasingly taking on a larger share of new residential development, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency.

March 12, 2009 - USA Today

Sacramento's Growing Tent City

A tent city is burgeoning in Sacramento, Calif., prompting local officials to consider whether such an encampment should be made permanent, with plumbing and all.

March 12, 2009 - The New York Times

Planning Paris' Makeover

Though challenged with facing a multi-tiered government, Nicholas Sarkozy has nonetheless devised one of the most ambitious plans ever for Paris. To reimagine this bolder, greener "Grand Paris," he has put 10 teams of architects and planners to work.

March 11, 2009 - AFP

Homebuilders Pin Hopes On State Tax Subsidy

California is now offering buyers of new housing units a $10,000 tax credit. The tax break was pushed hard by homebuilders, who say the measure should boost housing starts.

March 9, 2009 - California Planning & Development Report

Piecing Neighborhoods Together Out Of Foreclosures

In Detroit, a couple bought a foreclosure for $1900. They've been steadily piecing together a community out of their neighborhood ever since.

March 9, 2009 - The New York Times

Negative Equity on Nearly One-Fifth of U.S. Homes

About one out of every five homes in America is worth less than what is still owed on its mortgage. The highest rates of negative equity are in Nevada, Michigan, Arizona, Florida and California.

March 6, 2009 - Time

Incentive Program to Ward Off 4 Million Foreclosures

The Obama Administration has outlined plans to assist nearly 4 million homeowners in danger of foreclosure. The total cost to taxpayers runs close to $75 billion.

March 6, 2009 - The New York Times

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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