Affordable Housing

Report: Most New Rental Units Affordable Only for the Wealthy

A new report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies adds to what seems, at this point, like a tsunami of bad news for rental housing affordability.

December 10, 2015 - The Washington Post

Fix Housing Supply, Save the City: Is it Really That Easy?

Planning wonks might have felt all warm inside when they noticed zoning topics wedging their way into broader conversations about community affordability and equity. Bring it on. Finally.

December 8, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Hoboken, New Jersey

A Hoboken Resident Finds Fault in Parking Minimums

In older, denser communities like Hoboken, NJ, where almost everything is walkable and land value is sky high, why are city officials still requiring parking minimums?

December 8, 2015 - Strong Towns

Damage Control for New York's Big Zoning Proposals

One of the nation's most ambitious efforts to upzone neighborhoods in the hope of spurring more market rate and affordable housing supply is up for debate in New York City. A lot of people don't like the plan.

December 5, 2015 - Politico New York

Community Land Trusts Laying Down Roots in Baltimore

There are 200 community land trusts in the country, so the idea clearly has traction. With three organizations pursuing new community land trusts, the model might soon have a new test bed in Baltimore as well.

December 2, 2015 - The Baltimore Sun

Lending Inequalities Undercut Baltimore's Potential

Baltimore's housing stock is relatively accessible compared to many other cities on the East Coast, yet deeply ingrained issues of inequality still plague the potential for homeownership to assist in the city's recovery.

November 28, 2015 - The Atlantic

Hello Miami!

Plenty of Luxury Units to Go Around—While Affordable Housing Gets Less Affordable

The market for luxury apartment rentals is booming; the market for affordable rentals is not.

November 19, 2015 - The Atlantic

San Francisco

San Francisco Planning Department Proposes Increasing Heights in Neighborhoods

The San Francisco Planning Department is proposing a trade-off to neighborhoods to comply with a state density bonus law: Modestly increase height and density limits in exchange for more affordable housing.

November 19, 2015 - Hoodline

San Francisco

San Francisco Mega-Project Sets the 'Affordable' Bar High

A mega-project in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood is exciting for its size an prize tag—and remarkable for the income levels that define "affordable" in San Francisco these days.

November 17, 2015 - San Francisco Business Times

East Berlin

Berlin Moves To Protect, Expand Affordable Housing

Berlin's Senate has approved a sweeping reform of the city's housing policy, limiting rents on close to 400,000 public housing units to no more than 30 percent of a household income.

November 16, 2015 - CityLab

Vancouver Waterfront

Gentrification and Affordability Worries Arise Over a Proposed Vancouver Tower

A 12-story residential tower proposed for a Vancouver neighborhood is receiving pushback from housing advocates and the local Chinese community.

November 12, 2015 - The Province

Reimagining LA

Are Land Use Policies Mostly Hurting the Poor?

In a new paper, researchers find that land use regulations in cities have effectively created a "zoning tax," which primarily impacts the poor and renting class.

November 12, 2015 - Market Urbanism

Commercial Linkage Fee Approved—Seattle Moving Forward with Affordable Housing Agenda

The Seattle City Council recently took the first legislative step in the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) process.

November 11, 2015 - The Urbanist

In Illinois: an Affordable Housing Board in Name Only

More evidence of the inability of the Illinois Housing Planning and Appeal Act to achieve its stated goals.

November 11, 2015 - WBEZ

Houston's downtown skyline

Dispelling Four Myths of Houston's Growth and Affordability

A researcher at Rice University finds that proclamations of Houston’s affordability, gentrification, and growth are just myths.

November 9, 2015 - The Urban Edge

San Francisco Election Results: Airbnb Regulations, Mission Moratorium, Housing Bond

San Francisco voters rejected a moratorium on market rate housing in The Mission (Prop. I) and tighter restrictions on Airbnb (Prop. F), while approving the city's largest-ever housing bond (Prop. H) and a large mixed-use development.

November 4, 2015 - San Francisco Examiner

Poor Door

Op-Ed: Why Cities Need the 'Poor Door'

Drawing on a distinction between equality and equity, Rick Jacobus argues that so-called 'poor doors' are a necessary compromise to promote affordable housing and neighborhood integration.

October 29, 2015 - Rooflines

High Rise Construction

Supply, Demand, and Housing Prices, Part 2

Rebutting arguments against the law of supply and demand.

October 27, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Portland Maine

Portland, Maine Approves Inclusionary Zoning

The latest city to implement mandatory inclusionary zoning: Portland, Maine. The City Council decision contradicted the Planning Board's recommendation.

October 22, 2015 - Portland Press Herald

Seattle Apartments

Advocates Push for Affordable Housing on Dormant Public Property

Affordable housing advocates are pushing the city to use underutilized city owned property to build more housing, but it doesn't always pencil out.

October 21, 2015 - Seattle Times

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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New York City School Construction Authority

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Village of Glen Ellyn

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