With home sale prices growing faster than anywhere in the country, the Steel City could enact major reforms to boost density and lower housing costs.

A raft of proposed city policies in Pittsburgh take aim at housing affordability, reports Deidre Woollard for Benzinga. The proposal, to be presented to city council next year, would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and incentivize transit-oriented development (TOD), focusing on multifamily housing near transit stops. “In April, Redfin reported that Steel City had the fastest-growing sales price in the country, up 22% year over year.”
The city also plans to change the parking requirements for new housing to create more walkable mixed-use development and pave the way for adaptive reuse. Another zoning change is an update to the minimum lot size per unit, allowing more apartment buildings to be built on smaller lots.
The proposed reforms would require 10 percent affordable units in buildings with 20 units or more. However, “Local housing advocate Davit Vatz of Pro-Housing told CoStar News that inclusionary zoning can work against affordable housing goals if developers build fewer units to skirt the rules.”
FULL STORY: This Popular Real Estate Market Wants To Mandate Affordable Housing, Will It Work?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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