Mayor de Blasio's goal of building or preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next 10 years goes beyond what previous mayors have been able to achieve. How realistic are his chances of reaching this "lofty goal"?
After investing more than $5.3 billion in affordable housing, the Bloomberg administration saved or added 165,000 units over 12 years. Though Mayor de Blasio has made affordable housing production a centerpiece of his agenda, cuts in federal subsidy programs and other forces are likely to make the path to achieving his goal much more difficult.
"Jeff Levine, a developer who took advantage of the [Bloomberg era] rezonings to build and include affordable units, said of the 200,000-unit goal, 'It’d take an incredibly intelligent effort on the part of the public and private sectors.'”
"But affordable housing advocates say Mr. de Blasio comes to office with one critical advantage — his stated commitment to more-equitable housing policies," notes Mireya Navarro. By making affordable housing production mandatory under inclusionary zoning regulations, rather than optional, some believe de Blasio could spur the production of 25,000 to 50,000 affordable units.
"Under Mayor Bloomberg the idea was that all development is good, said Moses Gates, director of housing assistance for the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, an advocacy group. 'The shift we need to see to put a dent in our affordability crisis is, we want developers to build what the city needs, rather than just get stuff built.'”
Gainesville in Final Discussions on Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance
A see-saw battle over land use and housing policy continues in the city of Gainesville.
San Francisco Housing Construction Far Slower Than Other Tech Hubs
Experts blame high land and construction costs and restrictive regulations for San Francisco’s dismal rate of housing construction, which lags behind other fast-growing cities like Austin and Seattle.
San Francisco to Reconsider Inclusionary Zoning as Development Slows to a Crawl
Critics of inclusionary zoning frequently point to San Francisco as an example of what not to do. A sluggish year of development has some local politicians ready to reconsider the city’s program.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
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?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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