With great success, the city is on a fast track to transform six Great Depression-era public housing projects - totaling 4,000 units - into mixed-income housing. "People will be watching New Orleans closely," observes Linda Couch.
"What makes New Orleans unusual is how the city toppled all of its major public housing projects at once, choosing a swift overhaul to its public housing over a phased redevelopment," explains Couch in the USA Today article.
Despite the rosy outlook, a partnership between local housing authority and private developer to build varied-income housing significantly reduces the supply of subsidized housing in the market. "Public housing units account for about one-third of the new developments, and many families who once lived in the projects will be left out," notes Rick Jervis. One of the city's six projects, the 460-unit Harmony Oaks Apartments, has over 4,000 people on the wait list, vying for the subsidized units. Another option is to apply for the federal rent vouchers, which has some 22,000 families on the wait list as well.
FULL STORY: New Orleans unveils fresh model for housing the poor

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
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Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
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