Housing

Rincon Hill Towers To Change San Francisco's Skyline

San Francisco's skyline is on the verge of a transformation. Long known for landmarks such as the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, Rincon Hill, near the base of the Bay Bridge, will add a new dimension and a new neighborhood.

June 16, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Did Landlords Force Out Tenants To Gentrify Apartments?

A lawsuit alleges that landlords harassed tenants and forced them out from rent-controlled buildings in gentrifying neighborhoods.

June 15, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

The Two Faces Of Gentrification

Hollywood celebrities and gangs, million-dollar luxury homes and the homeless, all live side-by-side in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice.

June 14, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Mayor's Plan To Keep Paris From Shrinking

Concerned by shrinking population and jobs, Paris' mayor outlines his plan for infrastructure investments and affordable housing creation.

June 14, 2006 - The Guardian

'Microhomes' Joining McMansions As Vacation Getaways

Microhomes range in size from a few hundred to a little over one thousand square feet -- much smaller than the U.S. average of 2,400 square feet. While the microhome market is still "tiny", architects say buyer interest is growing significantly.

June 14, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Spanish Neighborhood To Mix Housing And Agriculture In 'Sociopolis'

The new development in Valencia, Spain, harkens back to a 1,000-year-old way of life, integrating small agricultural lands with housing, using a modern, high-rising twist.

June 13, 2006 - The Guardian

City Council Votes For Eviction In Kelo Case

The decision Monday further enforces a 2005 Supreme Court decision allowing a Connecticut city's use of eminent domain to increase commercial development, though necessary court approval could delay the eviction of the two final tenants for months.

June 11, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

U.S. Army Tries New Urbanism

New Urbanist design comes to the Villages at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Today, the military hopes more attractive neighborhoods will help recruit and retain soldiers, and create a stronger sense of community to support military families.

June 11, 2006 - The New York Times

House Passes Transportation, Housing, And Urban Development Budget

The new bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee "Provides for Smarter, More Efficient Amtrak Operations"; "Supports Aviation"; "Addresses Critical Housing Needs"; and "Funds Highway Spending", while cutting some critical programs.

June 8, 2006 - U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations

Cheaper To Provide Permanent Housing For Homeless People?

Many cities provide free permanent apartments first, then offer services and job training, to chronically homeless people. Eventually, formerly homeless people earn enough to afford the modest rents.

June 8, 2006 - The New York Times

Housing Demand Booms -- In South African Shantytowns

The rabid market for housing has spread from upper- and middle-class neighborhoods to the shacks of impoverished slum townships, with tens of prospective buyers for every property.

June 8, 2006 - The New York Times

Moving to New York City - Difficulties In Finding An Apartment And Discovering Density

A young couple leaves a spacious, affordable Chicago apartment to live in a cramped East Village, Manhattan apartment. Slide show with audio and related article describe their old and new digs, as well as the arduous hunt for their new home.

June 7, 2006 - The New York Times

For Rent In New York City: $1000, Nonregulated

According to NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the average rental price in the city is $1000. And that includes five boroughs and non-regulated apartments of all shapes and sizes.

June 6, 2006 - The New York Times

A Disturbing Insider's Look At New York City's 'Rentocrats'

Nora Ephron breaks the "code of silence" of Manhattan's exclusive rent-regulated tenants when she publishes an account in The New Yorker of bribing her way into an eight-room apartment for $1,500 a month.

June 5, 2006 - The New York Times

Is There A Nationwide Gentrification 'Conspiracy'?

In New York City, big landlords are driving out thousands of low income residents. Juan Gonzales believes this may be a national trend and local governments are actively assisting in gentrification.

June 5, 2006 - Democracy Now

Reframing New Jersey's Competitive Challenge

New research by the Brookings Institution ties New Jersey's troubling economic position to multiple forces, including rising housing costs, persistent race, class and place disparities, and unbalanced development patterns.

June 5, 2006 - NJBIZ Journal

Frustrated New Orleans Public Housing Residents Plan Return To Destroyed Development

Displaced residents tell the City Council that they will return to their 7th Ward housing complex this weekend and will tear down any fences in their way, refusing to wait any longer for official action on permission to return.

June 4, 2006 - The Times-Picayune

Chicago Fair Housing Agency Closes Its Doors

Formed with the help of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and legions of African Americans discriminated against during the Civil Rights era, the agency that helped pass the federal Fair Housing Act will close.

June 3, 2006 - Chicago Sun Times

What's Driving Children Out Of San Francisco?

It's been well documented that San Francisco has few households with children, and locals know that schools are closing because of declining enrollment. Yet pre-schoolers are on the rise -- why are families leaving the city before kindergarten?

June 2, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

FEMA Facing Class-Action Lawsuit Over Changes To Post-Katrina Housing Aid

Thousands of Katrina survivors scattered throughout the country may be about to lose their homes due to changes in FEMA funding.

June 1, 2006 - The New Standard

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.

Top Schools

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.