A Massachusetts smart growth incentive has enabled a Boston suburb to change its zoning laws to allow developers to build mixed-use developments without applying for special permits. Now other towns want in, but there might not be enough funding.
"Developers who might want to build a mix of apartments and stores in Brockton's struggling downtown now can do so without getting any special zoning permits."
"The city revamped its zoning this summer by approving a new district under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40R, the state's three-year-old initiative aimed at promoting smart growth and affordable housing. The state promises cash to communities that use the law, and Brockton is now eligible for a $600,000 incentive grant."
"'It looks like a win-win for the city,' said Brockton City Planner Nancy Stack Savoie. 'We are looking at this as a way of setting the table for new development in downtown Brockton. We have great hopes for 40R.'"
"But local and state officials are watching closely to see if the Legislature replenishes a fund that has provided the monetary incentives to help persuade local governments to adopt Chapter 40R."
FULL STORY: Housing deal gets popular
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
Rethinking Computing: Researchers Tackle AI’s Energy Demands
USC researchers are reimagining how AI systems are trained and powered — through smarter algorithms, innovative hardware, and brain-inspired designs — to dramatically reduce computing’s energy footprint.
Amazon-Owned Robotaxis to Begin Testing in LA
Los Angeles will become the sixth city where Zoox is testing its autonomous vehicle technology.
New York MTA Says No More Borrowing, Will Cut Costs Instead
The agency says it won’t take out any new loans to finance its planned improvements and is finding other ways to cut costs.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions