As the housing industry flounders, New Urbanist developers are using the flexibility inherent in their community plans to their advantage.
New Urbanists joined together at their annual Congress in early April, and came away with some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, as Chico, California based John Anderson observes, "We're in it with everbody else ... If there is a monsoon, everybody's roof leaks."
But there is good news: nonresidential investment is up, demand far outweighs supply for Traditional Neighborhood Developments, and New Urban quality stands out in a tough market. "Long-term demographic trends favor urbanism -- offering hope to developers that if they survive the next year or two, better times are coming."
"At New Town at St. Charles, a 755-acre TND, Whittaker Builders has quickly shifted housing away from slower-selling rowhouses while reducing field employees and overhead, Busse says. The developer created four new affordable housing types - mostly aimed at the $110,000 to $225,000 market - in the last 18 months."
FULL STORY: Surviving the market turmoil
Two Cheers For the Planners’ Pledge
A “Planners’ Pledge” created by some of the leading authorities on planning sets forth a bold urbanist agenda- even if not every idea in the pledge is equally useful in all cities.
A Better Understanding of Smart Growth Benefits
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200-Acre Traditional Neighborhood Development Coming to Northwest Arkansas
A local group recently completed the purchase of 200 acres near Rogers, in Benton County, Arkansas, that will become a master-planned, mixed-use neighborhood called Warren Park.
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.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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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