Building on the roughly 76 million square feet of vacant land already zoned for multifamily housing could create badly needed rental housing units and slow the growth of rent prices.
If Dallas were to develop the 475 vacant lots already zoned for multifamily housing in the city, it could build as many as 100,000 new housing units, reports Alexandra Both in an analysis on RentCafe. Both points out that “That’s more than the total number of apartments built in the city since 2000.”
RentCafe created a map of vacant lots and zoning restrictions in Dallas, revealing the zip codes that could house the most new rental housing. The RentCafe analysis found that, in addition to the 76 million square feet of vacant parcels already zoned for multifamily housing, “in total, Dallas has more than 494 million square feet of vacant land scattered around 3,152 parcels that could be used to build more housing” if rezoned to allow multifamily development.
According to Both, “Through strategic rezoning, the city could unlock even more potential for affordable and diverse housing options, that would not only alleviate the housing shortage but also drive Dallas towards a more equitable future.”
Developers blame the city’s long, uncertain permitting process and high fees for discouraging more construction. A bill proposed in the state legislature, House Bill 14, would let developers use a third party contractor to perform reviews and approve permits if the city doesn’t do so within a 15 day deadline.
FULL STORY: Unlocking Dallas’ Housing Potential: Existing Vacant Land Could Hold 100,000 New Apartments
New Jersey Calls for 85,000 New Housing Units
A state law known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine mandates that each jurisdiction accommodate enough new housing units to meet the local demand for affordable housing.
Zoning Reform Is Working in Minneapolis
The city has grown its housing stock and limited rent cost increase to just 1 percent.
The Rise of Zoning Reform
As the housing affordability crisis spread from mainly coastal cities to the rest of the nation, cities and states are taking a serious look at outdated zoning codes that hamper efforts to build more housing.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
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