Housing Crisis
The Oregon Legislature is already considering one of the most sweeping and ambitious statewide land use reform bills in the country. A new bill would allow even more density around transit stations.
Willamette Week
One approach to easing New York City's housing crisis: legalize and incentivize the construction of basement apartments.
Curbed New York
San Francisco Mayor London Breed is fighting hard to make it easier to develop affordable housing in the cost-impacted city. A fight will likely be required.
The Bay City Beacon
If it approves HB 1797, Washington will pace the rest of the nation (even California and Oregon) on reforming zoning to allow more accessory dwelling units.
Sightline Institute
A large group of technology and philanthropic foundations has announced multiple funds to help mitigate the crisis of housing affordability in the Bay Area. It's the second such effort announced already this year.
The New York Times
California's new governor has sent a strong signal to local governments: build housing to comply with state law or else.
Los Angeles Times
"Should DC spend about $2 million on a parcel of land in Columbia Heights to build a dog park?"
Greater Greater Washington
You might have read that headline and wondered why other wealthy tech companies aren't stepping up to make contributions to their home towns. There is a lot to understand about this news before jumping to conclusions.
The Seattle Times
Feeling a little "tl;dr" about the "Urban Planning Trends to Watch in 2019" article published by Planetizen earlier this month?
Planetizen via YouTube
Feature
A few ideas about what to watch in the world of planning in 2019. We only use the word Trump once.
State preemption, in the form major zoning reforms and mandates for local housing targets, are on the table in the Utah Legislature this year.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Legislation in Oregon would follow the lead of Minneapolis in overturning single-family zoning—for all cities in the state with more than 10,000 residents.
Willamette Week
New research reveals details of when and where rising rents trigger homelessness.
Zillow Research
California State Senator Scott Wiener has released the highly anticipated follow up to last year's failed bombshell of a housing bill, SB 827.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
High prices and rising mortgage rates are called a "toxic cocktail" for the homebuilding industry.
CNBC
Analysis and policy recommendations from Bay Area-based think tank SPUR focuses on how poorly designed inclusionary zoning the exact opposite of the desired effect.
SPUR
Environmentalists are up in arms after the loss of thousands of trees to make room for new developments in Nashville. Now a new affordable housing project could be the demise of the city's largest tree.
Tennessean
An opinion piece in CityLab reiterates the body of research showing evidence that rent control is not an effective tool in reducing housing costs.
CityLab
A City Council decision on short-term rental regulations reverses the decision of the City Planning Commission.
Los Angeles Times
Faced growing housing costs and limited funding and resources for struggling homeowners and renters, the city of Austin has ramped up efforts to identify and lobby for housing policy changes.
Next City
