Housing

Housing Glut Seems to Be Escalating

Some markets have experienced a dramatic increase in housing listings, according to a report by ZipRealty, a California real estate broker.

May 17, 2007 - CNN Money

Affordable Housing Plan Approved In Chicago

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's plan to require developers to set aside part of new projects as affordable housing passed by a vote of 44-2.

May 15, 2007 - The Chicago Tribune

New Urbanist Revival For Low Income Housing In Seattle

A former area of low-income housing has been redeveloped as a New Urbanist neighborhood in Seattle. The housing stock has almost doubled -- and nearly 40% of it is priced for very low income families.

May 15, 2007 - The Seattle Times

English PM-Hopeful Proposes Green Housing Plan

The man many expect to become the new English Prime Minister has proposed a plan to create 100,000 houses in five carbon-neutral "eco-towns" to help fight back against the country's housing crunch in a sustainable way.

May 15, 2007 - BBC

'Tent City' For Oakland's Homeless

City officials in Oakland, California, are proposing the creation of a "tent city" to provide temporary shelter to the homeless. Advocates say the private tents will be preferred to the city's existing barracks-style shelters.

May 14, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Rent Regulation: The Right Tool for the Right Job

Far too many discussions about the 'failures' of rent control don't take into account what such regulation is really designed to do -- namely, provide housing stability and protect against displacement. Before allowing rent control regulation to wither in New York City and elsewhere, it's a good idea to consider how much residents and society overall benefit from these imperfect policies.

May 14, 2007 - Greg Smithsimon

New Condo Towers Pit 'Boomers' Versus 'Echo-Boomers'

Though swank new condo towers in certain hip metro markets are catering to young singles, empty nesters are ruining the party by purchasing units as well.

May 12, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Affordable Housing May Be New Life For Gang Hangout

Los Angeles has knocked down a former "Crips" gang hangout and has plans to convert it into affordable housing.

May 11, 2007 - NPR

Manhattan's Tight Rental Market To Get Tighter

With Manhattan rents skyrocketing and vacancies dropping, many renters are resorting to creative, and often questionable living arrangements. Builders have shied away from rentals and gone into condos while potential buyers are choosing to rent.

May 11, 2007 - The New York Times

Opponents May Stop Fee Raise That Would Pay For Affordable Housing

Political opposition may stand in the way of Oregon's plans to raise money for affordable housing by increasing the fees paid when filing real estate documents by more than 100%.

May 11, 2007 - The Register-Guard

UK Officials Look To Counteract Housing Crunch

The supply of housing is being overpowered by demand in England, and government officials are hoping to establish measures that would ease the process of building new homes and increase the amount of affordable housing.

May 11, 2007 - The Guardian

Converting Trailer Park Housing To Home Ownership Opportunities

Manufactured-home communities, long vulnerable to displacement at the whim of park owners, are working with nonprofit partners to increase resident ownership of the land.

May 10, 2007 - Shelterforce Online

The Purchase of a Lifetime

When luxury condo developers started buying up properties on W Street in D.C., the low-income tenants who already lived there decided to get in the game.

May 9, 2007 - Shelterforce Online

Is The 'Florida Panhandle International Airport' Coming?

A development company has agreed to donate 4,000 acres of land to create a large, international airport in the Florida Panhandle, a controversial move they hope will bring enough people and economic activity to support the houses they plan to build.

May 9, 2007 - The New York Times

Is Downtown L.A. Headed For A Condo Glut?

Developers plan to build an 'iconic' 76-story structure in downtown Los Angeles. It would be the tallest residential tower west of Chicago and dramatically alter L.A.'s skyline.

May 9, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Housing Affordability Pushing Compact Development

In an effort to development more moderately priced housing, developers around Sacramento are squeezing more homes per acre and moving garages to the back alley, pleasing some planners and conservationists.

May 8, 2007 - The Sacramento Bee

Affordable Green Housing Develops In Seattle

Seattle-based affordable housing developers use the city's green building standards and grant programs to get many affordable housing projects started in the city and beyond.

May 7, 2007 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Converting Churches Into Condos

This video from Architectural Record looks at a new trend among developers and architects to resurrect old churches and religious buildings into condominiums.

May 5, 2007 - Architectural Record

Exploring Shared Equity Homeownership

Several new reports offer an analysis of shared equity strategies as an approach to reduce the cost of homeownership.

May 4, 2007 - Center for Housing Policy

Some Affordable Housing Builders Thinking 'Inside The Box'

Houses built from used shipping containers are an increasing popular affordable housing option.

May 4, 2007 - MSNBC

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.