Housing

Urban Golf Courses: Publicly Subsidized, Privately Enjoyed
City golf courses, paid for by public dollars, are rarely used by the vast majority of residents. Some advocates want to see them opened to the public as parks or repurposed for housing.

Sun Sets on Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan
After losing a court battle with environmental groups, the city must revert to the land use regulations in its 2030 plan.

Austin Ends Parking Minimums
The city approved changes called for by a May resolution that eliminate parking requirements in all neighborhoods.

From Department Store to Apartments
A former Sears store has a new life as a housing complex.

Reno Revisits Zoning Reform
After roundly rejecting a proposal to legalize granny flats in 2018, the city council is revising it and other zoning reform proposals that could increase the city’s affordable housing supply.

Detroit Launches Duplex Repair Program
The grants will help landlords repair aging multifamily affordable housing.

Parking Reform Pays Off With Lower Rent Costs
Research continues to show that adjusting parking requirements to align with demand can lower the cost of housing.

Opinion: Voters Deserve to See the Draft ‘One Seattle’ Plan
Despite a promise to release a draft comprehensive plan update in April and with elections in less than a week, Seattle residents are still waiting to see the city’s proposal for how to guide development in the next decades.

State Trust Lands Offer Opportunity for Affordable Housing
Western states that hold millions of acres in land trusts are working to turn some of them into affordable housing.

Contested Property: Haunted Houses and the Anxiety of Ownership in America
Sometimes home becomes a place of fear for the least supernatural reasons.

Austin Text Alert System Caters to Unhoused Residents
A new emergency text message alert system will provide information specific to the needs of homeless people during extreme weather events.

Federal Agencies Update Rules to Support Office Conversions
New grant rules make it easier for local governments to acquire commercial properties for conversion to affordable housing.

Bringing Circularity to the Construction Industry
Using more recycled materials could dramatically reduce carbon emissions and waste from construction projects.

Atlanta Approves Funding for 500 ‘Micro’ Housing Units
The city is promoting quick-build, low-cost solutions to stem the homelessness crisis.

San Francisco Required to Change Restrictive Housing Approval Policies
State agencies want the city to speed up its alarmingly slow permitting process.

Goat Blocks: A Blueprint for Urban Placemaking and Walkability
How one development harnesses placemaking tactics to build community at the street level.

Report Stresses Links Between Housing and Transit
A Canadian report calls for a more holistic approach to housing development policy and transportation planning.

Salem, Oregon Offers Pre-Approved ADU Plans
The city hopes the free plans will streamline the permitting process for homeowners and help spur more housing construction.

Fort Worth Passes Affordable Housing ‘Roadmap’
The new plan recommends strategies such as legalizing ADUs and creating a land bank for affordable housing development.

Repurposing Parking Space With a ‘Pop-up Apartment’
A New York installation highlights how much urban space is wasted on parking.
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