Zoning Reform

Colorado flags draped between buildings in downtown Denver, Colorado.

Denver Pauses Multifamily Development in Westside Neighborhoods Amidst Gentrification Concerns

City officials say the pause on permits for redevelopment projects aims to stop the displacement of long-term residents.

January 9, 2025 - Governing

For Lease painted on window of vacant commercial space.

2024: The Year in Zoning

Cities and states are leaning on zoning reform to help stem the housing crisis and create more affordable, livable neighborhoods.

January 8, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Anchorage, Alaska skyline with snowy mountains in background.

Anchorage Leaders Support Multigenerational Housing Model

The city is making it easier to build multigenerational housing that can accommodate families, children, and seniors who want to ‘age in place.’

December 27, 2024 - Alaska Public Media

Aerial view of lower Manhattan, New York City.

NYC Approves ‘City of Yes’ Rezoning Plan

The city council voted 31 to 20 to approve a package of zoning reforms aimed at creating 80,000 new housing units.

December 17, 2024 - Gothamist

View of brick buildings and One World Trade Center building and New York City skyline.

NYC’s Proposed Zoning Reforms Lag Behind Other Cities

Cities like Austin and Minneapolis are making major changes to their zoning codes to encourage housing construction, but New York’s proposed reforms are far less ambitious.

December 13, 2024 - The City

Large homes with large yards in suburban cul-de-sac near Atlanta, Georgia.

Commentary: Minimum Lot Sizes Drive Up Housing Costs

How making residential building requirements more flexible can ease the housing crisis and make neighborhoods more livable for more households.

December 11, 2024 - Strong Towns

Vintage multi-story brick apartment building and modern concrete and glass apartment building separated by a steep public stairway in Los Angeles, California.

Analysis: Localized Upzoning Less Effective

Changing zoning rules for a small number of parcels can increase land values and housing costs without boosting the housing supply.

December 5, 2024 - Governing

Row of old brick homes in Flushing, Queens, New York with high-rise buildings in background.

NYC Likely to Legalize ADUs as Part of ‘City of Yes’ Reforms

Homeowners in some neighborhoods could soon be able to build accessory dwelling units in their backyards, garages, or basements.

December 4, 2024 - Business Insider

Vacant pedestrian overpass and skyscrapers in downtown financial district at night.

Office Conversion Sees No Sign of Slowing

The adaptive reuse of office buildings for residential and other uses will grow by as much as 63 percent in 2024 over last year.

December 3, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Portland, Maine at dusk.

Portland, Maine to Revise Zoning Code

The ReCode initiative promotes more diverse housing types and reduces parking requirements, among other changes.

November 18, 2024 - Spectrum News

Blue and white Paramus, New Jersey town entrance sign.

New Jersey Calls for 85,000 New Housing Units

A state law known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine mandates that each jurisdiction accommodate enough new housing units to meet the local demand for affordable housing.

October 31, 2024 - Morristown Daily Record

Aerial view of suburban sprawl with large single-family homes near Dallas, Texas.

Zoning for Good

A new book highlights the power of zoning to change communities for the better.

October 15, 2024 - Governing

Aerial view of dense South Side Flats neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA with Orthodox church spires in foreground.

Pittsburgh Mayor Proposes Zoning Changes to Curb Housing Shortage

The mayor’s plan includes legalizing ADUs in single-family neighborhoods, eliminating parking requirements, and adding new affordability requirements to buildings with over 20 units.

October 3, 2024 - Next Pittsburgh

Aerial view of Arlington County, Virginia from an airplane.

Court Blocks Arlington County Zoning Reform

The county’s zoning reform plan would have promoted ‘missing middle housing’ types of up to six units on lots previously zoned for single-family housing.

October 1, 2024 - Reason

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

Dallas Approves Forward Dallas Comprehensive Plan Upgrade

The approval came with a raft of amendments, including one that calls for a reevaluation of the plan after five years.

September 30, 2024 - Candy's Dirt

Aerial view of lower Manhattan, New York City.

‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reform Gains Planning Commission Approval

The proposal to overhaul New York City’s zoning code, popular with voters, to make housing development easier faces opposition in the City Council.

September 29, 2024 - AM NY

Bird's eye view of single-family homes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Can Zoning Reform Save Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing?

With home sale prices growing faster than anywhere in the country, the Steel City could enact major reforms to boost density and lower housing costs.

September 19, 2024 - Benzinga

Bird's eye view of homes in Wichita Falls, Texas on a sunny day.

Texas Needs 300,000 Housing Units to Close Affordability Gap

The state’s comptroller warns that demand will continue to outpace supply without zoning reforms and a reduction in regulatory barriers.

September 13, 2024 - KFDX

Aerial view of Youngstown, Ohio.

Only Two US Metro Areas Are Affordable for Homebuyers

Northeast Ohio is the last remaining bastion of housing affordability, according to an analysis from the National Association of Realtors.

September 12, 2024 - Stateline

Multistory apartment building under construction with yellow crane.

Experts Say Zoning Reform Isn’t Likely to Solve Housing Crisis

A survey by Fannie Mae found widespread skepticism among housing experts that zoning reforms will be enacted widely enough to make a major impact on U.S. housing supply.

September 11, 2024 - Housing Wire

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