housing affordability
The 2017 "Worst Case Housing Needs" report paints a dire picture of the nation's low-income housing options, as the Trump Administration proposes drastic cuts to federal housing programs.
The Washington Post
The size of the gap between wages and the cost of rent is growing, and spreading. For renters, every corner of the country's housing market is in crisis.
CityLab
Vancouver's exploding housing prices are caused by income inequality, housing scarcity, and a housing bubble, not by foreign investors and vacant housing units.
Sightline
In Arlington, restricting density to preserve neighborhood character isn't new. A rowhouse ban in 1938 may be one factor behind today's steep prices and gentrification.
Greater Greater Washington
Feature
More trouble in River City, as Portland and Oregon struggle with rising housing costs and come up with a puzzling solution.
The "missing middle" of housing is a concept familiar to many planners, but it's still probably unknown to most of the public. A story for Austin's NPR station could be an indication that the missing middle is entering the public consciousness.
KUT
An op-ed written by city officials from two South Bay Area cities argues that reform of land use regulations won't be enough to solve California's housing crisis.
The Mercury News
The commission spent a significant part of last year in the spotlight. Now, its new director is moving ahead on climate adaptation and resilience efforts as a federal policy change looms.
The Planning Report
A loan program helps non-profits procure affordable apartment buildings that might otherwise be snatched up by speculative developers.
Next City
Arlington County, Virginia has begun a process to reduce parking requirements for large residential developments near transit stations.
Greater Greater Washington
Blog post
In an attempt to combat prohibitively high housing costs in California, some look to repeal the 1995 state law that limits the power of local rent control ordinances. However, removing those restrictions would likely exaggerate current problems.
The report recommends making displacement prevention a more central component of land-use policy.
The Architect's Newspaper
7.5 percent of homes in the French capital have no one living in them.
Better Dwelling
Blog post
Many households spend more than they can afford on housing and transportation, but the latest International Housing Affordability Survey is wrong to recommend sprawl as the best solution. Real solutions must reduce both housing and transport costs.
Mayor Bill de Blasio's recent State of the City address broke with tradition and voiced an impassioned plea regarding to housing affordability.
Politico New York
Housing prices are still well above the national average in the Bay Area, but some relief at least, has emerged in recent months.
The San Jose Mercury News
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's new Atlas for ReUrbanization relies on a metric called "character" to explore the relationship between historic preservation and affordability.
CityLab
Allowing the development of a planned community of 200 rental units, ranging from 200 to 800 square feet, will earn a position among the nation's most progressive land use policies.
The Denver Post
The state capital of California is starting to see rents that would fit in around San Francisco or Los Angeles. Although explanations are scant, some are blaming the stagnant multi-family development industry.
The Sacramento Bee
A new tax on foreign buyers and a threatened tax on vacant homes have contributed to a significant drop in home sales in October.
The Seattle Times
