Housing
Should Apartment Buildings Be Made Smoke-Free?
A recent survey shows that while many renters support the idea of smoke-free apartment buildings, an equal number are concerned about infringing on the rights of tenants -- even if they don't smoke.
Multifamily Housing Construction Surges In April
While the market for single-family homes remains deeply troubled, developers of apartment buildings are moving ahead with new construction -- likely expecting rising rents from tightening rental vacancy rates due to displaced homeowners.
The Wildflower Wars
A dazzling wildflower season spells trouble for master-planned communities across the West.
A Realtor's Solution For Creating Affordable Housing
An influential Vancouver Realtor has proposed a density bonus scheme that he says would get developers to provide more housing affordable to first-time buyers.
Fears Over Immigrants Stymie Accessory Unit Ordinance
Planners in Arlington, Virginia want to allow rental units in single family neighborhoods, but residents are strongly opposed to the proposal, many of them worried that the units will attract low-income immigrants.
Homeowner Associations Feel Impact Of Foreclosure Crisis
With high foreclosure rates and growing numbers of residents delinquent with their dues, many homeowners associations are having a hard time paying for repairs and amenities.
Road Building Requirement Lifted For Arizona Homebuilders
Homebuilders have been removed from the language of a transportation funding bill that would have required developers to pay for new roads.
Adding Housing To Office Parks
Facing a shortage of affordable housing, Westchester, New York, is considering using the excess parking lots of local office park campuses for new housing development.
New Urbanist Town Designed For Ultimate In Green Living
A planned New Urbanist development in Northern California wants enable its eventual residents to live within their prescribed ecological footprint.
Affordable Housing Versus Better Wages
Massachusetts wants to require affordable housing developers to pay construction workers a "prevailing wage", but with costs already totaling $200,000 or more per unit, the proposal may ultimately decrease the amount of affordable housing built.
California Housing Construction Crashes
There is very, very little new housing construction in most of California, where the number of housing starts is down 75% from the boom year of 2005. One result is layoffs for planners, building inspectors and plan checkers.
Housing Debacle Threatens Renters
A new report examines the impacts of the mortgage meltdown on rental housing.
A Silver Lining To The Foreclosure Crisis: More Affordable Housing
The Federal Reserve has announced plans to help community non-profits to acquire foreclosed homes for use as affordable housing.
Immigrants Face Discrimination, Abusive Fair Housing Policy In Nebraska
In Nebraska, a state experiencing just a moderate level of Hispanic immigration inflow, Attorney General Jon Bruning has drawn the line on who he’ll protect from abusive housing policies and who he won’t. For him, immigrants simply aren’t worth it.
Los Angeles Cracks Down On Mansionization
Despite concerns about lowering property values across the city, the L.A. City Council moved to limit the size of newly constructed homes in older neighborhoods to about 4,000 square feet.
Mission Possible?
Despite naysayers, Masdar City is moving forward. The goal: to be the world's first modern-day carbon-free city.
Gas Prices Hurting Housing Market
The bursting of the housing bubble may be tied to rising gas prices, according to one economist.
Rental Market Heating Up Due To Foreclosures
Americans who've lost their homes to foreclosure are now looking to rent, tightening up already low vacancy rates and driving up prices. Meanwhile, foreclosed homes sit empty.
Tycoon Plans Multi-Billion Dollar Home
Nita and Mukesh Ambani are planning a $2 billion, 440,000 square foot, 27-story home for their family in Mumbai -- designed by architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates.
Bay Area's Growth Shifts To Urban Areas
The latest population and housing estimates for the San Fransisco Bay Area show that urban areas are equaling, if not exceeding, the growth of suburban communities -- with more multifamily homes being built in lieu of detached single-family homes.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
