Apartment construction was the most widespread form of construction in Southeast Michigan during 2017, according to a recent report.
Allie Gross reports: "Southeast Michigan is seeing a swell in development, according to a new report by Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, which found that the region issued more than 11,000 building permits in 2017 — a 16% increase from the year prior."
Of that construction, multi-family was the most common, and apartment construction was the most popular of all. "The region saw a 23% increase in apartment construction from the year prior," according to Gross. "Condominium construction increased by 14% and single-family construction increased by 13%."
According to the report, the wave of multi-family construction is caused by demand for more affordable urban housing options. JC Reindl reported earlier in the month that a lack of starter homes in Detroit is leaving first-time buyers "in the lurch." Developers report that "it is now hard to make a profit on entry-level homes because of higher construction materials costs, a shortage in construction labor, local zoning and regulation issues and the cost of land in desirable areas."
FULL STORY: Apartment construction up 23% in metro Detroit

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions