Analysis shows that Atlanta is building a lot of new rental units, but most are priced at luxury levels, while the city's supply of low cost rental units are shrinking in the neighborhoods they're needed most.
Georgia Tech Professor Dan Immergluck has completed a study finding that Atlanta's supply of "low-cost units" (i.e., units that rent for less than $750 a month) is shrinking by 4.4 percent every year, reports Thomas Wheatley.
Immergluck's analysis finds no shortage of luxury units. According to his analysis, the city currently totals 11,000 units under construction, with another 9,000 proposed. Ninety-five percent of the rental units built between 2012 and 2014, however, were luxury units.
Meanwhile:
"Immergluck found that 70 census tracts, more than half of the census tracts in the city, saw a 'measurable decline in low-cost units, while only 27 tracts saw measurable gains (the remaining tracts saw no measurable gain or loss). More importantly, only 14 tracts saw gains of more than 50 units, while 52 tracts saw losses of more than 50 units, with 26 of these experiencing losses of more than 100 units.' Neighborhoods with relatively high poverty rates tended to see the highest declines and increases in low-cost rental units, Immergluck found."
To counter the trends in luxury and affordable units around Atlanta, Immergluck supports a city proposal for inclusionary zoning as well as spending of public money to construct and rehabilitate truly affordable units.
FULL STORY: Analysis: Atlanta has plenty of new luxury apartments... but 'low-cost rentals' are dwindling
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.