Building permits aren't the same thing as new buildings, as San Francisco proved once again in 2018.

Adam Brinklow reports that the number of homes built in San Francisco in 2018 fell drastically from the year before, 41 percent, according to the city's newly published Housing Inventory [pdf].
"The number of new units built plunged 41 percent compared to 2017 (which was itself a decline from the previous year)," explains Brinklow. "In all, 'new housing in 2018 totaled over 2,600 units.' While this is 'about the same as the 10-year average net addition of 2,676,' it’s not good news during a housing crisis."
The city authorized more than double that number, and if all of those 6,097 permitted units had been built, it would have represented a gain in new housing compared to 2017.
The number of new affordable units was also down in 2018, to 645 units, or a 56 percent reduction.
The source article includes many more factoids from the report, including how the city and county of San Francisco compared to other counties in the region.
FULL STORY: San Francisco housing construction down 41 percent in 2018

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

Few Landlords Pay San Francisco Vacancy Tax
Less than 3 percent of properties potentially subject to a new vacancy tax were filed as vacant in the last year, but empty storefronts in the city persist.

In Spite of Affordability Crisis, Richmond Rejects Manufactured Housing Plan
After declaring a housing crisis, the Virginia capital’s city council voted against a proposed manufactured home warehouse that would distribute replacements for aging manufactured housing stock.

A Planning Commission Podcast Journey: The 1,000 Joys of Planning
The Commissioners explore the facets of the planning profession that fill their cups with joy.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.