Sets of pre-approved housing plans can lower construction costs, shorten timelines, and encourage more badly needed housing production.

As more cities turn to pre-approved ‘housing catalogs’ to streamline permitting processes and stimulate more housing production, Molly Bolan describes the not-so-new concept in Route Fifty. As Bolan explains, “In the early 20th century, Sears, Roebuck and Co. published catalogs with home designs. Customers could choose a plan and send away for the materials to build their ‘kit home.’”
In recent years, cities such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Stockton have developed their own catalogs of pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and other ‘missing middle housing’ types aimed at reducing costs for homeowners and making it easier to build new housing units.
The Sears Catalog homes inspired the city of South Bend, Indiana to create a “catalog of pre-approved plans for infill housing in an effort to incrementally increase housing stock in their neighborhoods without fundamentally changing the character of those communities,” says Tim Corcoran, the city’s community investment planning director. According to Corcoran, “The plans are geared to smaller lots that are common in cities, rather than the larger plots that exist in the suburbs.” The city hopes the catalog will lower ‘soft construction costs’ and incentivize more housing construction.
FULL STORY: ‘Housing Catalogs’ Make a Comeback

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.

Report: Austin’s State Roads Deadlier Than City Roads
Traffic fatalities and serious injuries grew on state-owned roads in the Texas capital, even as city-owned streets saw death rates plateau.

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?
A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit
The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.
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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