Houston's apartment vacancy rate was among the highest in the nation before Hurricane Harvey, after the storm's destruction many of those homes will likely be put to good use.

With the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, Houston Chronicle reporter Katherine Feser points out the city is lucky to have so much slack in its apartment market. The city's apartment vacancy rate is 7.1% near the highest in the nation. "There's no precedent for the sheer number of people who will need housing, but Houston accommodated many Katrina evacuees in 2005," Feser writes.
For many displaced after the storm, apartments will be a logical choice. "[T]hey're typically more flexible on their lease terms and have properties ready for immediate move in, said Amy Bernstein, broker/owner of Bernstein Realty. Residents also want to be near their homes while repairs are underway, and apartments offer more options," Feser reports.
FULL STORY: Houston's apartment surplus will come in handy after Harvey

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

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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