Housing

The Changing World of the Single Family Home
There is not one single kind of family, so there should not be one kind of "Single Family Home."
New Orleans Added Almost 2,00 Affordable Units in 2016
A report from HousingNOLA about efforts to create and preserve affordable housing in New Orleans finds reasons to celebrate and reasons to keep working on the challenge.

Housing Bond Money Doesn't Go Far in San Francisco's Mission District
The limitations of affordable housing funds are apparent in San Francisco, raising the question of where and how the process of building affordable housing can be improved.

Seattle Could Upzone its Way to Affordability
Seattle is considering a proposal to upzone some of the densest parts of the city as part of its Mandatory Housing Affordability program.

Los Angeles Leader Steps Up On Homelessness Crisis
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, a veteran leader at the city, county, and state-level, addresses the funding gaps to address this urgent issue and shares some innovative models being deployed by the county.

Is the Company Town Back? Sort Of.
Unlike the earlier iteration, today's full-amenity tech campuses provide their well-paid engineers with Millennial-friendly upper middle class comforts. But is that enough?

San Francisco Ellis Act Restrictions Struck Down
An attempt to protect San Francisco tenants from some no-fault evictions was overturned in court.

Why New Affordable Housing Draws the Short Straw in Los Angeles
Cecilia Estolano, former Executive Director of Los Angeles’s Community Redevelopment Agency, diagnoses why the region has been unable to provide housing for working-class citizens.

A Case Against Homeownership
Against all odds, both political parties agree on at least one thing: the merits of homeownership. But is buying a home really such a great investment, even for the well-off?

Downtown L.A.'s Chinese Real Estate Cycle
Chinese developers are pouring money into high-rise housing projects in Los Angeles. But will these be pieds-a-terre for absent buyers? And how are developers dealing with the American regulatory environment?

Study Opens Doors to Better Eviction Data Nationwide
A survey of renters' housing history in Milwaukee could completely change what we know about eviction in the United States.

What the First Debate Taught About the Candidate's Positions on Cities
Urbanists and their ilk might have been disappointed in the first presidential debate's lack of focused attention to affordable housing, infrastructure, and other issues of importance to cities.

Rent Control Gains Support in Oregon
A recent poll has found growing support for a repeal of the statewide ban on rent control in Oregon.

The Obama Administration Releases a Pro-Development Playbook
A new paper released by the White House offers a toolkit of economic evidence and policy recommendations designed to help cities overcome local opposition to development.
The Battle Against McMansions Continues in Burbank
With a two-year Interim Development Control Ordinance set to expire in March 2017, Burbank, California is working on new design guidelines for single-family homes.
Pedestrian-Oriented Development Needs More Auto Parking
The new development near University of North Carolina Chapel Hill was called the 'Bicycle Apartments.' Students would bike or walk to campus so a parking reduction was granted. The apartments have been rebranded LUX — now a parking shortage exists.

Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask About Prop. 13
A new report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office demystifies the highly consequential and controversial property tax limit enacted by Proposition 13.

Op-Ed: Parking Concerns Can't Outweigh Affordable Housing
Recent development controversies in New York City inspired one writer to set some priorities.

Planetizen Week in Review: September 24, 2016
More than one city made big planning news this week. You only need two minutes and thirty seconds to find out more.

Denver to Offer New Transit Oriented Height Bonuses for Affordable Housing
The city of Denver is going all in for incentive zoning to ensure affordable housing is included among new developments in the neighborhood around the new 38th and Blake transit station.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service