Housing

Washington

Suburbs Encouraging Accessory Dwelling Units

Renton, a suburb of Seattle dealing with skyrocketing housing prices like many of the communities in the region, is allowing new density in residential neighborhoods in the form of backyard cottages.

December 8, 2018 - Crosscut

Front Porch

The Front Porch: A Space of Deep Meaning for African-Americans

Much more than just an extension of a house, the porch has long been a place of safety, intimacy, and communality.

December 7, 2018 - The New York Times

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

That's Mixed-Use: Housing on Top of a Bus Yard

San Francisco could try a new trick to help kill two birds with one stone.

December 6, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Seattle

Judge Upholds Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, Clears the Way for Upzoning

Since a city judge determined the legality of the long controversial Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, Seattle has been able to move forward with the plan to allow new density around the city.

December 6, 2018 - The Seattle Times

Los Angeles

How Residential Architecture Got So Cookie Cutter

While it's fun to tease about the architectural shortcomings of most newly constructed urban residential buildings in the United States, the causes of its ubiquitous sameness reveals the depths of the country's housing crisis.

December 6, 2018 - Curbed

Lower 9th Ward

New Orleans Wants to Loosen Zoning Restrictions in the Lower 9th Ward

New Orleans could make it easier to build new homes on small lots in the struggling Lower 9th Ward.

December 4, 2018 - The Advocate

Oregon

The Affordable Housing Game Has Changed in Oregon

There are a lot of financial, and legal, reasons to get the rethink the city of Portland's approach to affordable housing funding.

December 4, 2018 - The Oregonian

California State Capital

SB 827: Part 2

California State Senator Scott Wiener has released the highly anticipated follow up to last year's failed bombshell of a housing bill, SB 827.

December 4, 2018 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

California

New Property Tax Changes Proposed in California

A new bill proposed in the California legislature would cut back on the number of Prop. 13 property tax breaks handed down to heirs—who then live somewhere else.

December 4, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Wood Construction

Airbnb Getting Into the Housing Business

Correction: Airbnb is diversifying its housing business.

December 4, 2018 - Fast Company

Stockton Foreclosure

Can We Reduce Foreclosures by Building More Diverse Neighborhoods?

Arnab Chakraborty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Andrew McMillan of the University of Maryland College Park guest blog about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

December 3, 2018 - JPER

Race and ethnicity 2010: New York City

Report: 'Segregation Tax' Depresses Home Values in Majority-Black Areas

According to a study, residential segregation and anti-black bias combine to devalue properties in majority-black neighborhoods by an average of $48,000 per home.

December 3, 2018 - Curbed

City Apartments

The New Rental Market: Get Less for More

New analysis from RENTCafe finds apartments shrinking while prices are expanding.

November 30, 2018 - CNBC

Downtown Kansas City Missouri

Kansas City Star Editorial Board Laments 'Denverization'

The Kansas City Star Editorial Board has concerns about gentrification and affordable housing.

November 28, 2018 - The Kansas City Star

Nashville Tennessee

Nashville Scored an Amazon Prize, But the Long-Term Outcomes for the City Are Less Clear

Critics say the new operations facility will make some of the city’s problems even worse.

November 26, 2018 - Curbed

Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis 2040 Expected to Pass After Adjustments

One of the most ambitious comprehensive plans of a major city in the United States is headed to approval, after amendments and compromises garnered the necessary political support among city councilmembers.

November 25, 2018 - Star Tribune

Bank Owned

Detroit Program Keeps Homeowners Facing Foreclosure Housed

The buyback plan diverts properties from Wayne County's tax foreclosure auction, keeping them in government hands until residents can repay the purchase price.

November 24, 2018 - Detroit Free Press

Downtown Denver

Millennials Choose Cities for First Homes

New research suggests that millennials are remaining in urban areas as they transition from renting to homeownership.

November 24, 2018 - CityLab

Agricultural Land

British Columbia Wants to Curb Mega-Mansion Construction in the Agricultural Land Reserve

Farmers around Vancouver's Agricultural Land Reserve have been building "mega-mansions" on their farmland. The province wants to limit the scale of such homes, but farmers are pushing back.

November 22, 2018 - The Star

Senior Mobility

More Seniors Living in Suburban and Rural Areas; Aging-in-Place Solutions Needed

Less dense communities provide specific challenges in providing services to residents in need of extra care. More seniors living in suburban and rural communities will require new and scalable solutions.

November 21, 2018 - Route Fifty

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.