As people perform more daily functions at home, homeowners and renters are seeking larger footprints to accommodate a broader range of uses.

Paul Bergeron reports that single-family homes in the U.S. are growing in size, "in part because of homeowners’ desire for more space in response to the virus crisis and the opportunity (or necessity) for working from home."
Median floor area grew between the first and third quarters of this year, and industry experts expect the figure to continue growing as people find themselves doing more of their routine tasks—work, school, entertainment—at home. Meanwhile, rental properties continue to see high demand as many potential homebuyers are priced out of the market. For many renters, Bergeron writes, expanded storage is an increasingly important preference.
According to a separate article by Tyler Wilkins, build-to-rent homes, particularly in suburban areas, are growing in popularity and attracting powerful investors as many households decide to opt for the flexibility, convenience, and lower monthly costs of rental homes. But some city officials fear that investors will buy up rental homes and charge excessively high rents, prompting some localities to issue a moratorium on new rental subdivisions. While the model holds the potential for predatory landlords, housing advocates argue that single-family rental homes fill a gap in an increasingly volatile housing market.
FULL STORY: Single-Family Home Sizes Have Been Trending Larger This Year

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.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

As Business Districts Continue to Falter, Mixed-Use Neighborhoods Flourish
While office vacancies remain high and foot traffic sparse in many U.S. downtowns, areas with housing and businesses are more vibrant and desirable than ever.

Los Angeles County's 30x30 Strategy Earns National Recognition
L.A. County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) received a 2023 achievement award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Albuquerque Poised to Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units
Allowing ADU construction on parcels previously zoned exclusively for single-family detached housing is one component of the Housing Forward ABQ initiative, a larger effort to reform zoning practices in Albuquerque.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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
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