Housing

McMansion Sign

Economic Growth without the McMansions—Is America Ready?

Henry Grabar beckons the death of the McMansion, calling it an "American embarrassment" with no easy solution for planners.

July 15, 2014 - Salon

Woman Walking

New Research: Are Women Empowered by New Urbanism?

Charlotte Fagan and Dan Trudeau (Mcalester college) study two New Urbanist neighborhoods in Minneapolis to understand the ways in which New Urbanism impacts the empowerment of women.

July 15, 2014 - JPER

The Structural Details of Brooklyn's New Modular High Rise

Modular construction is still in its infancy, but a building set for completion later this year at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn is taking the building practice to new heights.

July 14, 2014 - Arup Connect

Fences Make Bad Neighbors in Hamden, Connecticut

The ugly story of the fence between a public housing community called New Haven and the nearby "middle class" community of Hamden, Connecticut will soon be over, but not because Hamden suddenly gained enlightenment.

July 13, 2014 - New York Times

Design, Engineering, and Construction Firms Hiring in New York Building Boom

Mark Fahey cites data from Crain's and the New York Building Congress showing that New York City's improving economy has percolated big numbers of hires through all levels of the building industry.

July 10, 2014 - Crain's New York Business

Vancouver Skyline

Why Foreign Money is Irrelevant to Increasing Density

While concern over foreign investment in the local real estate market is perfectly valid, the concern is irrelevant to the reasons and need to increase density and the supply of housing.

July 10, 2014 - Reuben Duarte

'Make It Right' Expands Homebuilding Mission to Assiniboine and Sioux Lands in Montana

Habin Kwak reports that Brad Pitt’s home-building operation, Make It Right, is expanding its operations outside of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward and a subsequent expansion in Kansas City.

July 9, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

San Francisco Density

Density is Key to Fighting Climate Change, Rules Bay Area Judge

A group that coined the term, "stack and pack" to deride density and its role in reducing carbon emissions lost in court when the judge rejected their argument that only technological improvements in cars and fuels were necessary to reduce emissions.

July 9, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Residents Clamor for Expanded Notification of Affordable Housing Projects in Texas

Michael E. Young reports that residents are upset about notification regarding the approval of two subsidized housing projects in the city of McKinney, located on the edge of the Dallas metropolitan area.

July 7, 2014 - Dallas News

Redefining Affordability in the Most Expensive Neighborhoods

Ryan Hutchins reports on the details of a recent negotiation between Helen Rosenthal, Upper West Side City Council representative, and the developer of a 1,000-unit residential project in Hell's Kitchen.

July 3, 2014 - Capital New York

The Bronx

Affordable, Mid-Term, Housing for All

A proposal to limit the amount of time low-income families can live in affordable housing.

July 2, 2014 - Edward Poteat

McMansions Spark Debate in Decatur, Georgia

Call them teardowns, infill, or McMansions, the affluent suburb of Decatur, Georgia is dealing with growing concern about neighborhood character and tree canopy as property owners adopt the trend toward new, large houses in existing neighborhoods.

July 1, 2014 - Atlanta Creative Loafing

New York City's Suburbs Building More Housing than its Boroughs

John Petro analyzes American Community Survey data to find that suburban areas like Hudson and Suffolk County are adding housing units at a much faster pace than all of New York City except for Brooklyn.

July 1, 2014 - New York YIMBY

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

Op-Ed: Oakland Needs Better Housing Policy to Lead Relief of the Bay Area's Housing Crunch

Robert Selna, a land use and real estate attorney, pens a letter to the editor arguing for Oakland to develop specific and aggressive housing development policies.

June 30, 2014 - SFGate

Arkansas Examined as the 'Worst Place to Rent in America'

A Vice News video feature by Spencer M Chumbley and Mark Scialla explores the impacts of what it calls "draconian eviction laws" in Arkansas.

June 30, 2014 - Vice News

Domestic Millennial

Study: Millennials Will Soon Boost the Housing Industry

Although the recession disrupted household creation by Millennials, a new study from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies suggests the generation will soon start to create households in large, influential numbers.

June 30, 2014 - The Washington Post

New 'Gold Rush' in Pittsburgh: Luxury Housing

Alina Dizik details what it takes to find a luxury home in the evolving Pittsburgh real estate market.

June 28, 2014 - Wall Street Journal

Board Passes on Rent Freeze Despite Mayor de Blasio's Intentions

The New York City Rent Guidelines Board is one of the few ways Mayor Bill de Blasio can influence the price of housing in the city. All sides came away wanting when the board approved a historically low increase.

June 24, 2014 - New York Times

Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area

Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.

June 24, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Washington D.C. Row Houses

Proliferation of 'Pop-Ups' Irks Washington D.C. Neighborhoods

Washington D.C. is experiencing a "rush" on new construction of renovated townhouses or "pop-ups," which many say do not fit the character of the neighborhoods where they tend to proliferate.

June 23, 2014 - Washington Post

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.