Affordable Housing

Memo From Future Self: Hope For The Best But Prepare For the Worst

Planning issues are often considered to be conflicts between the interests of different groups, such as neighborhood residents versus developers, or motorist versus transit users. But planning concerns the future, so it often consists of a conflict between the interests of our current and future selves.

June 25, 2009 - Todd Litman

Most Unaffordable Housing, Most Livable Cities?

The Economist magazine has published it's list of the most livable cities in the world. But quite a few of these cities have the most unaffordable housing, complains Owen McShane.

June 22, 2009 - New Geography

Vancouver Begins Incentive Program to Boost Affordable Housing

Next month, Vancouver will begin a two-and-a-half year incentive program to encourage developers to build affordable housing.

June 21, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

New York's Coney Island Makeover Moves Forward

New York City's planning commission recently approved a plan to revitalize Coney Island.

June 20, 2009 - Crain's New York Business

Katrina Victims May Face Eviction

Thousands of families who are still living in temporary trailers after Hurricane Katrina face uncertainty in their housing this summer.

June 16, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Developers Could Skirt Approval Process

DuPage County may let developers bypass the County Board for project approval if they develop low- to moderate-income housing projects.

June 15, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

Fighting Foreclosures

Fort Lauderdale joins a national program which will provide $3.7 million to change foreclosed homes into affordable housing.

June 8, 2009 - Sun-Sentinel

Opportunities (and Mindfulness) of the Emerging HUD Blueprint

By any measure, the HUD that is now emerging from the shadows of eight years of amateur hour, is focused on the right things: markets, coherent roles for public and private sector alike, and energy efficiency. Indeed the emphasis on "urbanism" and "regionalism" illustrates that this administration "gets it".

May 18, 2009 - Charles Buki

From Condo to Affordable Housing

Officials in New York are pushing a plan to reuse foreclosed or abandoned condo projects as affordable housing.

April 20, 2009 - City Hall News

Turning Luxury Condos Into Affordable Housing

Housing advocates and policymakers in Brooklyn are working with developers to take half-finished luxury condos (stalled out by the economic crisis) and transform them into affordable housing.

April 19, 2009 - City Hall

LA's Density Bonuses Thrown Out

A judge has ruled against parts of SB 1818, a density bonus law that allows taller building limits in exchange for affordable housing units.

April 15, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Affordable Housing Gets $32 Million

The MacArthur Foundation has announced it will give $32 million in grants and loans to preserve and create affordable public housing through HUD, in addition to the $4 billion allotted to the agency from the stimulus bill.

April 2, 2009 - Architectural Record

New Orleans Endangers Funds by Not Using Them

Senator Mary Landrieu has threatened to take away some of New Orleans' unused federal dollars if they remain so. Of the unspent $34 million allocated for low-income housing, $11 million will be lost if there are no projects by May 31.

March 13, 2009 - The Times-Picayune

Housing Prices Low, But Not Affordable

The housing market has bombed, bringing prices and values to devastating lows. But despite lower prices, affordable housing is still in too short of supply, according to this piece from Time.

March 2, 2009 - Time

In Praise of Non-Profit Developers

John King of the San Francisco Chronicle trumpets the work of Bridge Housing in increasing the availability of quality affordable housing in the Bay Area. But is it enough? New studies say affordable housing is an uphill battle.

February 26, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

"Cost-Effective" Condos Cheaper than Rental

One developer has found a way to build condos at $60,000 less than it costs the average Toronto developer. Through deferrals from the city, money is made available to assist homebuyers with their down payments.

February 18, 2009 - The Tyee

His Inn Rejected, A Developer Builds Affordable Housing

Matthew Klauer had intended to build a 44-room country inn on the 27-acre plot he purchased in Washington, Connecticut. Rejected by locals, Klauer is changing the plan and building 33 small homes using an affordable housing law.

February 17, 2009 - Governing Magazine

Five Myths About Affordable Housing

The downturn in the housing market has led to a lot of misconceptions about housing. This piece from The Tyee identifies five myths about affordable housing.

February 15, 2009 - The Tyee

City Buys Homes For Homeless

The city of Dallas is committing to purchase homes for hundreds of homeless residents, rather than building shelters.

February 2, 2009 - Dallas Morning News

Importing the Tijuana Model

Architect Teddy Cruz is creating new models of affordable housing using the shantytowns of Tijuana as his inspiration.

January 6, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.