In Washington, D.C., some apartment tenants are living without a landlord -- and without a high standard of living.
Checcia Durham now understands that free rent isn't as appealing as it might sound. A longtime legal tenant of an abandoned apartment building, Durham has no one to complain to when things go wrong. After the original landlord proved to be a fake and vanished, the only maintenance of the building has been prompted by infrequent requests from tenants to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which recently "performed a building-wide inspection, finding...'numerous housing violations' ranging from water damage to dangerously unsecured bathroom fixtures to an absence of smoke detectors".
FULL STORY: ISO Landlord
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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