European cities have taken a proactive role in regulating Airbnb.
Aamna Mohdin surveys the world's cities to account for the regulatory ground ceded by Airbnb, the most famous of the short-term rental websites. According to Mohdin, the regulatory changes have leveled the playing field between Airbnb and traditional hotels: " Renting a room, or a home, from Airbnb has historically been far cheaper than staying in a hotel in part because people who rent out their homes via the service generally don’t pay the same business taxes levied on commercial properties."
Airbnb has made concessions to curb these tax advantages in cities around the world, including London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin. The article explains the policy changes, with links to additional resources, in each of those cities.
FULL STORY: Airbnb is losing one of its biggest advantages over hotels
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.
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.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
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.
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