A change made last month in the regulations concerning which buildings the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) judges to be eligible for financing could enable the construction of more mixed-use walkable developments, reports Angie Schmitt.
According to Schmitt, the FHA has finally loosened restrictions on the amount of commercial space a condominium project could have and still be eligible for financing, "thanks in large part to the efforts of groups like Congress for the New
Urbanism and the National Association of Realtors."
"FHA loosened a restriction that forbade government-backed loans from
supporting condominium projects that contained more than 25 percent
commercial space. New rules will allow credit to flow to projects with
up to 35 percent commercial space - or 50 percent in certain cases where
the developer applies for an exemption." The outdated restrictions, says Schmitt, "have hampered the growth of mixed-use housing."
"This is one indication that FHA is making big strides," said CNU
spokesperson Benjamin Schulman. "We view this as the first step in this
long process to reform the regulation."
FULL STORY: Federal Housing Administration Clears Way for More Walkable Development

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
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.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions