Housing
Opinion: It’s Time Zoning Laws Reflected the Real World
Current zoning restrictions hearken back to an America that long longer exists. It’s time to update codes and stop perpetuating housing segregation and inequality.
S.F. Bay Area City Says It Wants More Housing—But Votes Down Project
The project included everything San Bruno and residents asked for, and it would have helped the city make significant progress in addressing its growing housing crisis. Still, it was voted down.
Boulders to Replace Rose Bushes in ODOT Effort to Inconvenience the Homeless
The Oregon Department of Transportation anticipates spending about a million dollars to bring boulders to road embankments so that they are less hospitable to the homeless.
Private Golf Courses Closing in Chicago's Suburbs
Failing golf courses pose a choice for cities that can use tax dollars to turn them public or put the land to use in other ways.
What Do Cities With Fewer Cars Have in Common?
A new analysis looks at how income and population density are related to car ownership and some ways that the design of cities can help lessen car dependence.
Are U.S. Homeless Worse Off Than India's Poor?
In photographs and written observations of a recent trip to Mumbai, India, former SPUR Director Jim Chappell queries how the lives of the poorest people there compare to the lives of low-income Americans.
The Wonderful World of Vicious Circles
Government's pro-sprawl and anti-density policies often create problems that justify more of the same.
SROs Are Getting People Off the Streets in Portland
Single-room-occupancy hotels are providing much-needed affordable housing for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Fostering Global Tourism Without Destroying Cities
More people than ever are traveling, but cities around the world are struggling to keep up. A new declaration aims to balance the benefits and challenges of tourism.
How the Next President Might Take on the Housing Crisis
Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren have all announced housing plans.
Voters Are Skeptical About Developers and the Free Market as Housing Saviors
Few in Los Angeles have the opinion that the lack of housing supply is driving the homeless crisis in the city and around the state.
Proposed Law Would Prevent Downzonings in California
A proposed state law, SB 330, would make it remove some local control of land use regulations by making it very difficult to downzone.
Glendale, California Passes 'Right-to-Lease' Ordinance
To combat displacement, Glendale authorized a new ordinance requiring that landlords offer year-long leases to existing tenants and capping rent hikes.
Historic Preservation And High Rents
Although individual old buildings may be less expensive than newer ones nearby, historic preservation may make both old and new buildings more expensive.
Seattle to Build Housing Alongside Light Rail
Seattle is going beyond transit oriented development by building apartments on parcels of land near stations.
New Guide Helps Citizens and Communities Understand Zoning
"Chicago Land Use: A Guide for Communities" is a new online resource whose release has been accompanied by community events to share info and empower Chicagoans to understand the zoning where they live.
California Needs a Marshall Plan for Housing, According to New Governor
Governor Gavin Newsom talks tough on housing in California.
Proposed Law Would Empower Section 8 Voucher Users
A law under consideration in San Jose would prohibit landlords from disallowing Section 8 voucher users, though landlords could still turn away renters based on other criteria.
Flood Risk and Community Resiliency
An analysis of how flooding, the most frequent and costliest natural disaster in the U.S., will cause stress to the housing market in coming decades.
New Urbanists and New Housing
The Charter of the New Urbanism favors infill development, yet new urbanists sometimes oppose infill, especially in historic urban areas. This post speculates on why that might be the case.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
