Trump’s tariffs on steel and other building materials are driving up building costs slowing development and pushing up rents.
Developers in Boston are worried about the spate of new tariffs from the Trump administration. "Tariffs imposed recently by the Trump administration on some of the country’s biggest trading partners are driving up the prices of lumber, steel, aluminum, and other building materials," Tim Logan and Adam Vaccaro write for The Boston Globe. When developers don't build, that slows down supply of housing. "In some cases, that could mean higher rents on apartments or more tax dollars spent on a new bridge," Logan and Vaccaro report.
Because the development cycle takes place over many years, changes in the price of materials can make a huge difference. Businesses want predictability. Rising costs also affect government projects, the city of Boston anticipates the bump in material costs will add $7.5 million dollars in additional cost to the projects. The added costs will have effects that go well beyond Boston.
Some developers are avoiding high raw steel tariffs by buying prefabricated steel products, like pipes and beams, in Canada and trucking them to the United States.
FULL STORY: Tariffs are making it more expensive to build in Boston — and that could push rents even higher
Tampa Bus Project In Jeopardy, Waiting for Funds From Trump’s Federal Transit Administration
The St. Petersburg Bus Rapid Transit is waiting for funding promised by Congress but yet to be paid out by the Federal Transit Administration.
Top Housing Markets In 2017: Phoenix, Los Angeles, Boston
The National Association of Realtors weigh in on 2017 housing forecast.
New Trump Infrastructure Plan: A Trillion Dollars for New Roads Without Spending a Dime
Trump plans to authorize $137 billion in tax credits to private construction companies to build projects with tolls and other future cash streams to them to spur building and the economy.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)