The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
Two proposed California Assembly bills take aim at the housing supply through adaptive reuse, according to an article in Beverly Press. The bills aim to make the process of converting commercial buildings easier and less expensive.
Assembly Bill 2909 expands economic incentives for converting commercial buildings to housing. “Specifically, the bill would make buildings that are at least 30 years old and located in commercial zones eligible for Mills Act contracts and require that property tax savings be reinvested in retrofitting and repurposing existing buildings to create new residential rental units.”
Assembly Bill 2910 “enables jurisdictions that are designated as ‘pro-housing’ and are compliant with state housing laws to adopt alternative building regulations to make it easier to convert commercial and industrial buildings to residential units.”
In Los Angeles, an adaptive reuse ordinance adopted in 1999 helped bring 12,000 new residential units to the city’s downtown area.
Read the full story: California Assembly bills would make it easier to convert commercial buildings into housing
New Jersey affordable housing requirements spur infill development across the state
A 50-year-old law continues to reshape development around housing goals.
Co-living ‘Microapartments’ Cost Half as Much to Build as Typical Studios
In 10 major U.S. metros, an analysis found that converting office buildings to small co-living units could dramatically cut the costs of construction.
Office Conversion Sees No Sign of Slowing
The adaptive reuse of office buildings for residential and other uses will grow by as much as 63 percent in 2024 over last year.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds
A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.
Metra may invest $9.1 billion in regional rail
The agency released a draft of a study examining potential ways to offer more frequent train service.
California city breaks ground on transit connector
The project includes three mobility hubs and a pedestrian bridge.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority