Housing

Planners Feeling Tension Between Disruption And Convention

Cultural changes and 'disruptions' created by the 'sharing' economy are challenging planners just as they're challenging their own competitors. Bill Fulton assesses the brave new world that might liberate planners—or befuddle them.

December 2, 2015 - California Planning & Development Report

Stahl House Los Angeles

Krugman Argues the Supply Side to Combat Urban Inequality

Paul Krugman, one of the most influential voices of liberal policy in the United States, has identified a culprit in the U.S. affordability crisis: over-regulation.

November 30, 2015 - The New York Times

Lending Inequalities Undercut Baltimore's Potential

Baltimore's housing stock is relatively accessible compared to many other cities on the East Coast, yet deeply ingrained issues of inequality still plague the potential for homeownership to assist in the city's recovery.

November 28, 2015 - The Atlantic

Toronto from the CN Tower

Costs Soar for the Suburban Lifestyle in the Toronto Area

Famous for its focus on dense, infill development and quickly ascending skyline, the Toronto housing market is still plagued by rising housing costs at the single-family detached homes end of the spectrum.

November 28, 2015 - The Toronto Star

Analyzing the Impacts of Choice Neighborhoods Grants

A new study examines the question of how to achieve neighborhood transformation through the Choice Neighborhoods federal grant program.

November 25, 2015 - Urban Institute

Seattle Rental Market Trending Toward the Affordable

The Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that landlords and developers are concerned about the effects on the market from a wave of new housing supply ready to come online in the region.

November 24, 2015 - Puget Sound Business Journal

Skid Row

Los Angeles Declares Shelter Crisis Ahead of El Niño

Facing winter storms and flooding, the city of Los Angeles is opening public buildings as temporary shelters for the homeless. Mayor Garcetti also has the option of declaring a state of emergency around the 26,000 people without housing.

November 24, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Too Big to Be Green

The energy costs of big houses on big lots overshadow the benefits of energy efficiency.

November 23, 2015 - CityLab

Anchorage to Provide Permanent Housing for the Homeless

Newly elected Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has unveiled a new plan to end homelessness in Alaska's largest city, Anchorage. It focuses on providing permanent housing over the next three years for 300 adults who are living on the street and in camps.

November 22, 2015 - Alaska Public Media

Hello Miami!

Plenty of Luxury Units to Go Around—While Affordable Housing Gets Less Affordable

The market for luxury apartment rentals is booming; the market for affordable rentals is not.

November 19, 2015 - The Atlantic

San Francisco

San Francisco Planning Department Proposes Increasing Heights in Neighborhoods

The San Francisco Planning Department is proposing a trade-off to neighborhoods to comply with a state density bonus law: Modestly increase height and density limits in exchange for more affordable housing.

November 19, 2015 - Hoodline

Another Housing Boom—Another Housing Bust?

Housing costs are skyrocketing all over the country. Does that sound familiar? How worried should we all be that the current boom will have similar consequences as the previous housing boom?

November 18, 2015 - Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Melting Pots and Shrinking Islands

Brooklyn-based artist Ekene Ijeoma newest piece shows what parts of New York City are affordable to different people across the spectrum of salaries in the form of crystalline islands called "wage islands."

November 17, 2015 - Doggerel

Anaheim, Home to Disneyland, Proving Popular for Short-Term Rentals

Anaheim is struggling to keep up with a glut of houses in residential neighborhoods being used as short-term rentals catering to Disneyland's crowds. The city is profiting, but neighborhoods, perhaps, are not.

November 16, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

East Berlin

Berlin Moves To Protect, Expand Affordable Housing

Berlin's Senate has approved a sweeping reform of the city's housing policy, limiting rents on close to 400,000 public housing units to no more than 30 percent of a household income.

November 16, 2015 - CityLab

Car Production Line

Designated Zones to Protect New York Manufacturing

Without designated industrial zones, New York manufacturing companies risk losing their facilities to the residential development market. The de Blasio administration has promised some zoning protections for industrial enclaves.

November 13, 2015 - Crain's Business New York

Where People Choose to Live—Simple and Also Not-So-Simple

A new study confirms much of what we already suspect about the choices people make about where to live, but with a far-reaching, scientific approach.

November 12, 2015 - CityLab

Vancouver Waterfront

Gentrification and Affordability Worries Arise Over a Proposed Vancouver Tower

A 12-story residential tower proposed for a Vancouver neighborhood is receiving pushback from housing advocates and the local Chinese community.

November 12, 2015 - The Province

Reimagining LA

Are Land Use Policies Mostly Hurting the Poor?

In a new paper, researchers find that land use regulations in cities have effectively created a "zoning tax," which primarily impacts the poor and renting class.

November 12, 2015 - Market Urbanism

Commercial Linkage Fee Approved—Seattle Moving Forward with Affordable Housing Agenda

The Seattle City Council recently took the first legislative step in the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) process.

November 11, 2015 - The Urbanist

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.