Housing

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

How Repairing and Modernizing Aging Homes Can Contribute to Housing Affordability

Weatherization and efficiency upgrades can reduce energy costs and keep older homes habitable, but many low-income households are excluded from federal funding.

April 19, 2022 - Vox

YIMBY

Where Pro-Development Groups Are Gaining Traction

The YIMBY movement seems to be gaining steam as more the country deals with growing housing prices and increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness. Recent research reveals where pro-development forces are most likely to call home.

April 18, 2022 - Brookings

Treasure Valley

Different Approaches to Fast Growth in Idaho's Treasure Valley

Three cities on the periphery of the fast-growing Treasure Valley showcase different approaches to a sudden influx of newcomers.

April 18, 2022 - Idaho Press

Arizona Suburb

Biden Wants to Incentivize Inclusionary Zoning

Traditionally the purview of local governments, single-family zoning has come under fire as ‘exclusionary.’ Now, the federal government wants to encourage cities to loosen restrictions.

April 18, 2022 - Route Fifty

Chinatown gate, Boston

Community Land Trusts Fight for Neighborhood Affordability

The increasingly popular community-oriented mechanism makes neighbors into property owners and preserves affordable housing in perpetuity.

April 17, 2022 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Residential duplex building

Support for ‘Missing Middle Housing’ Strongest Among Young People

A recent survey shows overwhelming support for denser housing options, with younger people and renters most likely to support ‘missing middle housing’ types.

April 15, 2022 - The Architect's Newspaper

California

California Cities Could Face a Zoning Reckoning

As the state toughens rules related to its housing allocation process, cities statewide may finally be forced to overhaul their zoning codes to ensure an adequate supply of housing at all affordability levels.

April 14, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Austin, TA sign reading "Whole Foods Coming Soon" adorns a blue wall across the street from warehouses.

Austin Now Taking Applications for its ‘Right to Return’ to Gentrifying Neighborhoods

The Texas state capital’s “right to return” law was delayed by the pandemic, but Austin is now taking applications for longtime low-income residents to find housing in gentrifying neighborhoods.

April 14, 2022 - KUT

Amazon headquarters under construction in Arlington, Virginia

Amazon’s Housing Initiative Does Little for Low-Income Workers

Of the thousands of units Amazon has secured as part of its pledge to create affordable housing near its new headquarters, just over 200 are reserved for the lowest-income renters.

April 14, 2022 - The Washington Post

Suburban Neighborhood

Resilience Planning for Suburban Growth

Whether or not the suburban shift accelerated by the pandemic continues, policymakers can implement climate resilience strategies and guide sustainable growth in both cities and exurbs.

April 12, 2022 - Brookings

Coronavirus

Concerns Mount as Pandemic Eviction Protections Expire

With eviction protections in Virginia set to expire at the end of June, advocates warn that an “eviction tsunami” could still sweep up the state’s renters.

April 12, 2022 - NBC 12

House key with house-shaped keychain on table

Thousands of Affordable Homes Threatened as 30-Year LIHTC Restrictions Expire

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program has helped create more than 3 million affordable housing units across the country. But if something isn’t done soon, thousands of those homes could be lost forever as affordability periods expire.

April 12, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Miami

Miami-Dade County Housing Market in ‘Crisis’ as Rents Soar

The county’s mayor has declared housing affordability a crisis as costs in South Florida cities rise by as much as 30 percent.

April 12, 2022 - Fox 13

"Please Be Quiet" sign

New Hampshire Could Permit Short-Term Rentals Statewide

A proposed bill would prohibit towns and cities from enforcing bans against short-term rental properties.

April 11, 2022 - The Keene Sentinel

Apartment complex in Maryland

Why Inclusionary Zoning Alone Won't Solve the Housing Crisis

Building enough affordable housing to meet current shortages will take more concerted effort from policymakers.

April 11, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Pandemic Public Health

The 'Eviction Tsunami' and Other Pandemic Projections

The ups and downs of the pandemic have been extremely hard to predict, so the consequences of the pandemic have been just as unforeseeable—despite the efforts of a nation of armchair prognosticators.

April 11, 2022 - The Atlantic

San Diego skyline and apartment buildings

San Diego County Development Turns Inward

Formerly a bastion of sprawling suburban developments, the San Diego region is experiencing a renaissance of urban infill development and higher-density, mixed use construction projects.

April 10, 2022 - Urban Land Institute

Regional Transportation District

Denver Affordable Housing Program Moves Forward

A proposal to reduce parking requirements near transit and encourage higher-density affordable housing development received Planning Board approval, but community concerns about affordability and displacement remain.

April 10, 2022 - The Denver Post

Waterfront Metro station, southwest Washington, D.C.

D.C. Metro Plans To Boost Transit-Oriented Development

The agency is seeking to execute joint development agreements to support more density near transit stations and boost affordable housing production.

April 10, 2022 - WTOP

Apartment for Rent sign

Emergency Assistance Has Helped Renters, but Hurdles Remain

Research shows pandemic rent relief programs made a significant difference for struggling renters.

April 8, 2022 - Joint Center for Housing Studies

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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.