Housing

Aerial view of dense single-family homes in neighborhood still under construction

A Big Picture of the US Housing Market

A new report highlights the factors driving up housing costs around the country.

June 25, 2024 - Governing

Two wood-frame houses under construction.

Commentary: When Neighborhood Change is Inevitable

Changes in the size and type of housing can accommodate different living arrangements and offer opportunities for multigenerational living and aging in place.

June 24, 2024 - Strong Towns

The Basilica of St. Joseph in San Jose, California.

Faith-Based Housing Movement Grows

More churches and municipalities are saying ‘Yes in God’s Backyard.’

June 21, 2024 - Vox

Two-story homes on residential street in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

British Columbia Cracks Down on Short-Term Rentals

Provincial leaders say the new rules could open up as many as 19,000 units for long-term rental.

June 20, 2024 - CTV

Small backyard cottage with gabled roof in San Diego, California.

San Diego Sees Continued Growth in ADU Permits

Recent changes to regulations have made it easier and more affordable for homeowners to build ‘granny flats,’ and San Diego’s housing stock is benefiting.

June 20, 2024 - Axios San Diego

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18, 2024 - University of Kansas

View of Mount Hood at golden hour with Happy Valley, Oregon homes in foreground.

Clackamas County Votes to Allow ADUs, Residential RVs

County officials hope the zoning changes will help boost the housing supply in the region.

June 18, 2024 - Mountain Times

White modular home being built on dirt mound

Modular Home Company Aims for Long-Term Affordability

Modular building can help lower construction, maintenance, and utility costs.

June 17, 2024 - Fast Company

View across lake of Washington, D.C. office buildings with blooming cherry trees in front on lakeshore

Report: DC Needs ‘Immense’ Funding Increase to Address Housing Crisis

Close to 60,000 District households can’t afford their housing costs, according to research from the Urban Institute.

June 17, 2024 - Urban Institute

Elderly woman in pink shirt sitting at table on porch across from elderly man in white shirt. A pot of pink flowers sits on the table.

10,000 Americans Turn 65 Every Day; Why It Matters

As more people age, communities are preparing for the growing need for services, affordable housing, and transportation.

June 16, 2024 - Route Fifty

An aerial view of the South Side of Chicago, with Lake Michigan to the left in the distance.

The Nation’s Most Pro-YIMBY Cities

The District of Columbia and Chicago have some of the most housing-friendly policies in the nation, according to a new report.

June 16, 2024 - yahoo! Finance

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Pythian Building in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Permanent Affordability That Wasn't: Lessons from the Pythian Building

A high-stakes, high-profile community land trust project once hailed as a triumph in New Orleans ended in disaster for its residents, but it’s important to draw the right lessons about why.

June 12, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Two-level stack of shipping containers blocking off People's Park in Berkeley, California.

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of People's Park Housing

The decision paves the way for a controversial student housing development.

June 10, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

An aerial view of a park and the streets and high-rises of Downtown Omaha.

Omaha Program Promotes Infill Development

Budding developers can access funding and low-cost vacant lots for affordable housing construction.

June 10, 2024 - Nebraska Examiner

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

A side view of a young Black woman in a red sweater and jeans standing at a ballot box in a gymnasium with white walls and an American flag in the background.

Gen Z Says Housing Affordability Is Top Issue in November Election

As mortgages remain out of reach and rents unaffordable, particularly for younger generations, housing affordability could be a deciding factor at the ballot box.

June 9, 2024 - HousingWire

For rent sign with blurry house in background

DOJ Investigating Corporate Landlords for Criminal Conspiracy

Lawsuits allege corporate landlords used property management software RealPage to cooperatively raise rents. The impact on the Atlanta rental market appears to be broad enough that the Feds are investigating for potential criminal conspiracy.

June 9, 2024 - Popular Information

View of Louisiana state capitol building and downton Baton Rouge, LA

May’s Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

The month of May featured a lot of stories on local and state bans, as well as a controversial move to split Baton Rouge in two.

June 7, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Aerial view of downtown Seattle, Washington.

Top 5 US Cities for Office-to-Residential Conversions

As more and more cities look to adapt vacant office buildings into homes, a new analysis from Urban Institute says some cities will benefit more than others.

June 7, 2024 - Urban Wire

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.