City officials say the pause on permits for redevelopment projects aims to stop the displacement of long-term residents.
A “quietly released” memo from the Denver Community Planning and Development department signals a plan to stop approving higher-density projects in some West Denver neighborhoods. According to an article by Joe Rubino in Governing, the move is an effort “to stem the tide of gentrification trends in the historically Latino area.”
The memo announces a pause on rezoning approvals until “more affordability tools to preserve and/or create affordable housing are available to be paired with rezonings to higher intensity districts.”
Proponents of the moratorium say it will help slow the displacement of residents in the area, while critics argue that limiting the development of multi-family housing is exacerbating the housing crisis. “Home values in the West Area Plan neighborhoods increased 155 percent, on average, from 2010 to 2022, a period when home values skyrocketed citywide. But that spike has corresponded with a rapid decline in ethnic diversity in the area,” Rubino explains.
Advocacy group YIMBY Denver says the best way to limit the impact of gentrification is not to stop development in certain neighborhoods, but to eliminate single-family zoning to make it easier to build new housing everywhere in the city. “In 2025, CPD is undertaking a “missing middle housing” project aimed at fostering a more gentle increase in density in appropriate places.”
FULL STORY: Despite Housing Shortage, Denver Puts Brakes on Dense Development
San Francisco Mayor’s ‘Family Zoning’ Plan Faces Pushback, Displacement Concerns
Newly proposed legislation aims to protect long-term tenants from displacement caused by Mayor Lurie’s proposed zoning reform plan, which would allow for more housing construction in parts of the city.
How Cities Are Resisting State Efforts To Increase Density
Cities are attempting to wrest back local control over land use and zoning via some ingenious—and sometimes disingenuous—strategies.
Missoula Approves Zoning Reform Emphasizing More Diverse Housing, Walkability
The city’s new zoning code, map, and development standards will guide more expansive housing options and improved walkability.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association