Affordable Housing

One57

Office-to-Residential Conversions Considered as Workers Go Remote

Reduced demand for office space after coronavirus could lead New York landlords to consider the conversion of offices to residential spaces.

April 14, 2020 - The Real Deal

The Tenderloin

Safe At Home: Securing Affordable Housing in a Pandemic

An interview on the critical importance of securing quality affordable housing during the pandemic, coupled with the challenge of responding to the operational needs of ongoing development projects.

April 13, 2020 - The Planning Report

Base Camp Village

Using Inmate Labor to Build Affordable Housing

How do we balance the need to provide job training to those incarcerated with the need to ensure that prisoners are not exploited for their work?

April 12, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Jackson Hole

In Wyoming, Vast Open Spaces Meet Extreme Gaps Between Rich and Poor

The story of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, illustrates the class tensions that arise when an idealized vision of life close to nature butts up against the realities of wealth, privilege, and social inequality.

March 26, 2020 - Outside

Montgomery County Residential Homes

Why Is Housing in the D.C. Area So Pricey? It’s the Land

It’s not "luxury" factors that make housing in Washington, D.C., extremely expensive.

March 16, 2020 - WAMU

Mansion

In U.S., Income Growth Dispersing to More Places

The country’s economic pie is sliced up differently now as growth in metropolitan areas involves either income or population increases—but not both.

March 9, 2020 - The New York Times

Homeless Camp Portland

Intercity and Intracity Data on Homelessness Needed for Effective Policies, Study Says

A broader evidence base can more effectively evaluate policies for preventing and ending homelessness, according to a recent study published by Housing Policy Debate.

March 4, 2020 - Homeless Hub

Capitol Hill

The Federal YIMBY Act Makes Progress in the House

A federal bill intended to increase transparency in land use and zoning decisions as well as encourage localities to eliminate barriers to housing has advanced out of a House of Representative committee.

March 2, 2020 - Financial Services Republicans

California Sprawl

California's Piecemeal Progress on Housing Production

California Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Tara Barauskas dive into the barriers to affordable housing in California and whether recent legislation streamlining local planning, zoning, and permitting processes.

February 27, 2020 - The Planning Report

Texas Sprawl

San Antonio's Housing Equity Crisis Traced to Planning Roots

Lending and planning policies have split San Antonio residents into haves and haves for decades, according to a large feature published recently by the Rivard Report.

February 27, 2020 - Rivard Report

The Peninsula

New Housing Law Quickly Enacted in Bay Area

A four-month-old California housing law that applies only to 100% affordable housing near transit has dramatically changed a housing proposal in an affluent Peninsula city, though it is too soon to say if the additional two-stories will be approved.

February 26, 2020 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Silicon Valley, facing Downtown San Jose

Zuckerberg and Company Set Goals on Housing Policy and Affordable Housing

With over $500 million in resources, the Partnership for the Bay’s Future is funding policy and affordable housing projects throughout the region.

February 23, 2020 - The Mercury News

Goose Island Chicago

Residential Development Proposed for Chicago’s Goose Island

A plan for the riverfront property would bring thousands of housing units to the historically industrial area.

February 17, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Manhattan

Development Opponents Gaining Ground in New York City

According to this article in the New York Times, the days of development interests dominating the planning process in New York City are over.

February 11, 2020 - The New York Times

Vacant Properties

The Vacancy Myth

Is the existence of vacant apartments an excuse not to build new housing?

February 10, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Sunset

Voters Could Get the Chance to Ease Development Restrictions in San Francisco

A ballot initiative by San Francisco Mayor London Breed would make it easier for qualifying developments (e.g., developments that include affordable housing) to sidestep discretionary approvals.

February 6, 2020 - The New York Times

Georgia

The City of Atlanta Housing Affordability Tracker

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms has promised to deliver 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2026.

February 6, 2020 - Curbed Atlanta

Candlestick Point-Hunters Point Bayview

S.F. Bay Area Megaprojects Not Coming to Fruition

Plans for numerous large-scale developments in the region mean thousands of housing units should be on the way, but constant delays and setbacks have left projects nowhere near completion.

February 5, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles, California

The Newest Tool in the Affordable Housing Toolbox: Eminent Domain

Los Angeles has taken a rare step in anti-eviction action, considering the use of eminent domain to protect tenants of an apartment building in a gentrifying part of the city.

February 4, 2020 - Los Angeles Magazine

Olympia, Washington

Tax on High Earners Proposed to Fund Homeless Services in Seattle's King County

The Washington State Legislature is proposing a type of tax that the city of Seattle tried, and failed, to implement a few years go.

February 3, 2020 - KUOW

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

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.