Building more housing where people work is a simple way to come out of the pandemic with a stronger sense of community and shorter commutes, according to this article.
Pandemic lockdown has changed the way people relate to the cities in which they live, shop, and work. Increasingly, say Michael Hendrix and John Ketcham, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way residents of the New York City region commute and shed light on the fact that under 'normal' circumstances, hordes of people commute into cities on a daily basis to get to work.
Hedrix and Ketcham opine that instead of allowing the commute to continue, planners and lawmakers should increase housing supply in commercial areas. Upzoning commercial areas, they say, will minimize commute times while improving neighborhood quality and individuals' quality of life.
The article urges for the transformation of New York City neighborhoods, its authors arguing that density controls and regulation opposing adaptive reuse are ultimately damaging to community vitality in the Big Apple. Not enough housing has been built in areas where jobs are growing. "An October 2019 report by the New York City Department of City Planning found that from 2009 to 2018, 700,000 new jobs were added in the city, compared with only 197,000 new housing units permitted," write Hedrix and Ketcham.
Given the decreasing demand for urban retail and office space, planners and politicians should begin to build housing in those areas where demand will ultimately crop up again. According to Hedrix and Ketcham. "With the right policies, this time of crisis can give way to more neighborhoods where we live, work, and play."
FULL STORY: More housing is the answer to less transit
New Density Control Measure to Close Some New York Streets to Cars
To encourage recreational walking while practicing social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the New York City mayor and city council speaker to devise a pilot project to provide for open streets.
Study: Poor Air Quality Fuels COVID Transmission
Communities exposed to higher levels of air pollution experience higher rates of infection, particularly in areas with high population density.
Don't Call it a Comeback: Big Cities Are Outlasting Predictions of Demise
As the new world order of working from home and vaccine hesitancy settles in, it's time to reevaluate assumptions from early in the pandemic about the effect of the public health on the economic health of large cities.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
