Affordable Housing

Despite their fears, the well-off residents of Mount Laurel have been unaffected by the “fair share” of affordable housing mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark battle over the socioeconomic integration of suburbia.

October 22, 2013 - The New York Times

Amid America's urban renaissance, increasing the supply of affordable housing has arisen as a topic of concern in several of the country's cities. The New York Times "Room for Debate" page asks eight experts to contribute their recommendations.

October 19, 2013 - The New York Times

Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown served two terms as mayor of Oakland. His attempts to bring more downtown housing to the city led him to veto an inclusionary housing bill that would have required developers to supply affordable housing or pay an in-lieu fee.

October 18, 2013 - San Francisco Chronicle

By "protecting" San Francisco's physical character through down-zoning and NIMBY activism, the city has transformed its social character, as families, young adults, and others flee the city to find cheaper rents. A regional solution is required.

October 14, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Bill de Blasio, NYC's likely next mayor, has proposed passing inclusionary zoning regulations to increase the city's supply of affordable housing. Other cities have struggled with such regulations, raising questions about its effectiveness.

October 14, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

The New York Times editorial board praises the Sept. 26th decision of the N.J. Supreme Court to uphold the 1983 landmark, affordable housing, anti-exclusionary zoning principles known as Mount Laurel and reject the appeal by Christie and 11 towns.

October 8, 2013 - The New York Times - Opinion

If high demand cities like Seattle hope to avoid the fate of insanely priced cities like San Francisco, they'll have to do a better job of addressing the housing supply side and stop placing the burden of subsidy on new development.

October 7, 2013 - Citytank

Toronto’s 2013 Vital Signs Report cautions that while Canada’s largest city has a lot going for it, growing income disparity, high youth unemployment, and housing un-affordability threaten its future as one of the world’s most livable cities.

October 4, 2013 - The Toronto Star

Although the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is one of the federal government's most effective housing programs, its administration by local public housing agencies limit its ability to de-concentrate poverty. A new report proposes a solution.

October 2, 2013 - The Washington Post

Improving our cities and suburbs is just as important to environmental sustainability as regulating pollution or conserving undeveloped land, argues Kaid Benfield.

September 25, 2013 - NRDC Switchboard

As of 2010, the U.S. had a shortfall of 5.1 million housing units affordable to low-income renters. As the demand for such housing increases, preserving affordable units that exist is a much more cost effective solution than constructing new ones.

September 24, 2013 - HUD: Evidence Matters

Unlike in New York, housing cooperatives are a rare find in DC. Tucked into neighborhoods like Logan Circle and Columbia Heights, they are "relatively unknown". But they provide a "great source of stable, affordable housing," writes Elizabeth Falcon.

September 20, 2013 - Greater Greater Washington

In Vancouver, the presence of corner stores indicates diverse, dynamic, and affordable neighborhoods. But is the disappearance of such stores from neighborhoods across the city a sign that residential areas are becoming unbalanced?

September 17, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Amsterdam has sent its first family to go live in a ghetto on the east side of the city, now commonly known as "scum village."

September 15, 2013 - Future Cities

Applicants began lining up before dawn for a chance to land one of 122 affordable apartments being built in Arlington, VA. More than 3,600 people have applied in total, surprising the developers and pointing to the area's increasing unaffordability.

September 10, 2013 - The Washington Post

As New Yorkers prepare to vote in tomorrow's mayoral primaries, Democrat Bill de Blasio's "tale of two cities" critique of the Bloomberg years has resonated with voters. But when it comes to land use, do his policies promise more of the same?

September 9, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Alan Durning details the negative effects that parking requirements have on housing affordability.

September 4, 2013 - Sightline Institute

Changes to the criteria for evaluating applications for the federal New Starts program could have a significant impact on efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing in close proximity to transit.

August 31, 2013 - Rooflines

A five-story, 60 ft. building proposal in Berkeley, Calif. that would house 70 'high end' micro-apartments ranging from 307 to 344 sq. ft. was presented to the city's Zoning Adjustment Board, but commissioners and neighbors were not impressed.

August 29, 2013 - Berkeleyside

A Chicago-based community development financial institution (CDFI) and efficiency group help apartment building owners tame high utility costs, preserve affordable housing, and cut global warming emissions.

August 23, 2013 - WBEZ FM Chicago