The Institute for Justice developed model legislation that would reduce or eliminate zoning and building code barriers to low-cost, small and shared housing units.
The Institute for Justice (IJ) has published the ROOM Act, a model bill aimed at improving housing affordability by “Restoring Options in Occupancy Models.”
The legislation, which IJ plans to help introduce in multiple states, aims to eliminate barriers to co-living and single-room occupancy (SRO) arrangements that offer affordable housing options for single individuals, yet are prohibited by zoning codes and building regulations in much of the country.
According to an IJ press release, “Single-room occupancy was a standard fixture in many cities, but was aggressively and deliberately phased out by local governments in the mid-20th century, often during counterproductive efforts at urban renewal.” In expensive cities, this led to more people becoming homeless when they couldn’t afford larger homes.
LA delays state housing mandate with 'low-rise ordinance'
The new ordinance allows the city to delay implementing SB 79, a state law requiring more density near transit.
Atlanta's Beltline hits 79% of its affordable housing goal
The walking, biking, and transit corridor set a goal to create 5,600 affordable housing units in the area by 2030.
Charleston Creates ‘Workforce Housing District’ With Permanent Affordability
The city has a goal of adding 3,500 new housing units by 2032.
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