Smart Growth And Housing Affordability

Anthony Downs explores the tensions between affordable housing and smart growth and outlines how they might be resolved in practice.

1 minute read

November 22, 2001, 9:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


Unless reforms occur, "...the desire of local homeowners to protect their home values through exclusionary zoning will perpetuate the existing conflict between Smart Growth and housing affordability. That will be true regardless of what Smart Growth advocates claim is their desire to create affordable housing. Therefore, working toward establishing effective regional arrangements of that type is a vital and profound challenge to all land-use planners, especially those who declare they are believers in Smart Growth." (Speech by Anthony Downs, November 8, 2001, Annual Convention of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to Kurt Sommer

Wednesday, November 21, 2001 in AnthonyDowns.Com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Red and yellow surfboards leaning against fence in Maui, Hawaii.

Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards

“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.

March 19 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Group of older people sitting at table indoors laughing.

Building Age-Friendly Homes

Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.

March 19 - Happy Cities

Times Square with Broadway billboards at night.

Nightlife and the 15-Minute City

Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.

March 19 - Cooperative City