Housing

New Report Recommends Tough Medicine to Fix Bay Area's Housing Ailments

A new report by the Bay Area Council argues that the regionwide housing crisis demands a regionwide response, i.e., all nine counties and 101 cities need to build more housing, and if they don't, there needs to be consequences.

November 11, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

In Illinois: an Affordable Housing Board in Name Only

More evidence of the inability of the Illinois Housing Planning and Appeal Act to achieve its stated goals.

November 11, 2015 - WBEZ

Houston's downtown skyline

Dispelling Four Myths of Houston's Growth and Affordability

A researcher at Rice University finds that proclamations of Houston’s affordability, gentrification, and growth are just myths.

November 9, 2015 - The Urban Edge

More Cities Declaring a State of Emergency Over Homelessness

Seattle is the latest city to declare a state of emergency in response to homelessness in the city. Los Angeles, Portland, and Hawaii took similar steps in recent months.

November 8, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Housing Market Recovery Still Lagging for Minority Borrowers

The recovery from the housing crisis of the Great Recession has proven uneven in more ways than one. One not insignificant feature: less lending to minority homebuyers.

November 7, 2015 - Urban Institute

A Rare Interview With One of L.A.'s Most Controversial Developers: Geoff Palmer

Prolific and infamous developer Geoff Palmer rarely gives interviews. So it was an occasion when he appeared before an audience at the Lorenzo, his lavish student-housing complex, to recount the philosophy and practice of his controversial legacy.

November 6, 2015 - The Planning Report

San Francisco Election Results: Airbnb Regulations, Mission Moratorium, Housing Bond

San Francisco voters rejected a moratorium on market rate housing in The Mission (Prop. I) and tighter restrictions on Airbnb (Prop. F), while approving the city's largest-ever housing bond (Prop. H) and a large mixed-use development.

November 4, 2015 - San Francisco Examiner

Brooklyn Community Board Rejects Upzoning Proposal

The latest chapter in the ongoing supply vs. demand chronicles takes place in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, where a community board came down firmly in opposition to new density in their neighborhood.

November 4, 2015 - DNAInfo

Neighborhood Polarization in a Canadian City

In Canadian cities, rising income inequality has been reflected in neighborhood polarization. The experience of Hamilton, Ontario, has been typical. Here, inner-city decline is now giving way to gentrification, displacing poverty to the suburbs.

November 4, 2015 - Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership

Stockton Foreclosure

The New Landscape of the Housing Crisis

The housing crisis that made headlines during the Great Recession is proving far more persistent than the common narrative about over-priced coastal market allows. A new report by the Center for American Progress uncovers the facts on the ground.

November 3, 2015 - The Atlantic

Lombard Street San Francisco

Housing and Tech Industry Showdown on the San Francisco Ballot

In tomorrow's citywide election, San Francisco voters are faced with a suite of ballot propositions essentially offering a referendum on hot button issues like gentrification, neighborhood character, and supply vs. demand.

November 2, 2015 - The New York Times

Skytrain Over Parking Lot, Surrey Central

Parking Requirements at TOD Projects Remain Stubbornly Out of Sync

Transit Oriented Development projects around the country are still facing suburban-style parking requirements.

October 30, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

West Philly Gentrification

New Research on Gentrification

Describing the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's recent study on gentrification in that city.

October 30, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Republican debate

What Does the Upcoming Presidential Election Mean for HUD?

An op-ed explains the significance of the 2016 presidential election for the political clout of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Those supporting the agenda of HUD, according to this argument, should be wary of a Republican victory.

October 29, 2015 - Edward Poteat

Shotgun Homes, New Orleans

New Orleans Holding Out Hope HOME Program is Spared in Budget Fights

With Congressional budget negotiations ongoing in Washington, New Orleans home builders, policy makers, and low-income residents are hoping that the HOME Investment Partnership program comes out unscathed.

October 29, 2015 - The Times-Picayune

Poor Door

Op-Ed: Why Cities Need the 'Poor Door'

Drawing on a distinction between equality and equity, Rick Jacobus argues that so-called 'poor doors' are a necessary compromise to promote affordable housing and neighborhood integration.

October 29, 2015 - Rooflines

Downtown Houston

Re-Evaluating Houston's Downtown Living Initiative

Like many other cities, Houston was looking for ways to bring more residents to Downtown. The Downtown Living Initiative has worked well—but will it leave some populations behind?

October 28, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Car Bike Lane

Bicyclists and Sunday Drivers Clash in DC

To some, a protected bike lane saves lives; to others, it threatens the survival of a community.

October 27, 2015 - The Washington Post

High Rise Construction

Supply, Demand, and Housing Prices, Part 2

Rebutting arguments against the law of supply and demand.

October 27, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Construction

The Hidden Costs of Building Green

New green buildings may be de riguer, but preservation does less harm.

October 26, 2015 - Boston Society of Architects

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.