Housing
Friday Funny: Divorcing Couple Cut House in Two
40 years of marriage was apparently too many, as a man in Cambodia cut his home in two, moving his half to his parents' property.
Affordable Housing Needs Affordable Land
Witold Rybzynski details the vicious cycle behind the nation's shortage of affordable housing.
'Housing That Works' Plan Announced
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that within the next five years, $5 billion will go to funding 20,000 new affordable homes near public transportation.
Urban Planners, Butt Out!
The authors of one study assert that vibrant cities can't be engineered by the application of "nuanced criteria"; however, this has very much become the paradigm of urban planning.
Boston Burdened by Surge in Homelessness
Unlike many other states faced with the challenge of housing its homeless, Massachusetts is mandated by law to do so. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is also faced with budget shortfalls, making solutions elusive.
Mexico to Invest Billions in Infrastructure
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has announced a $4.3 billion plan to improve the country's infrastructure, schools and housing stock.
Affordable Housing in a Tough Market
Ann Arbor, Michigan bought a former YMCA building to serve as affordable housing. Four years later, it sits empty, a piece of the difficult housing puzzle. 'Given the environment now, it would be tough,' says one planner about the site.
Subdivisions Becoming Ghost Towns
As foreclosures spread throughout the suburbs, subdivisions are rapidly becoming modern-day ghost towns, according to this column from The Seattle Times.
Bailout Will Try to Save Suburbs, But Can't
Despite the $700 billion financial bailout plan, the suburbs will continue to lose population and value, according to Peter Katz. He says it's time for the government to prevent suburban development that is only doomed to fail.
New York Families Make One Bedroom Work
The amount of young families squeezing into one-bedroom apartments in New York City is on the rise.
Housing for Post-Foster Care Kids
As many as 65% of foster care kids in Utah end up homeless and on the streets. A youth commission in Salt Lake County is proposing a new sort of housing project to help young adults as they age out of the foster care system.
One-in-Six Homeowners 'Underwater'
Some 12 million households now owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, leading economists to worry that foreclosures will continue to rise.
McCain's Mortgage Buyout Plan Draws Criticism
Media analysts and economists are confused about presidential candidate John McCain's proposed "Homeownership Resurgence Plan," which would see Washington spend up to $300 billion to become a "lender of last resort."
Under McCain, Homeowners to Get a Direct Boost
Upon gaining the presidency, Senator McCain would make the federal government spend part of its bailout money on bad home mortgages, allowing homeowners to stay put and make payments that reflect their homes' lessened values.
Affordable Housing Hits Resort Town
A new master-planned development in Whistler blends housing types, keeping in mind its local workers, full-time residents, and seniors. Most notably, however, it provides much needed affordable housing options.
Economic Crisis Putting Condo Projects at Risk
In the current economic situation, condo developers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure financing.
From Bad to Worse in NOLA
The economic crisis is the latest hindrance to stall rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. From issues of boosting homeownership to restoring tourism, the Big Easy's road to recovery is looking bumpier than ever.
The Cost of Density
As Toronto's heritage buildings fall to disrepair, new condominiums are slated to go up in their stead, prompting outcry from preservationists.
The Enduring Popularity of Levittown, and Why It is So Hard to Replicate
Author and urbanist Witold Rybczynski looks at new housing in the aftermath of World War II compared to today. Why are new houses so much more expensive now than they were then?
Mexico Fighting Police Corruption Through Homeownership
Officials in Mexico are looking to crack down on rampant police corruption with an unlikely carrot: mortgages.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
