Affordable Housing
Vancouver Plans Big Build to End Homelessness
The city of Vancouver is planning to offer more than $42 million in land and capital grants aimed at developing affordable housing. Its part of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in the city.
How the Other Half Lives in Hong Kong
For a city of over 16,000 people per square mile, less than 7% of Hong Kong's land is designated for residential use. Subdivided apartments - aka "coffin units" - totaling 150 square feet aren't uncommon, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Reality Check for Affordable Housing in NYC
Tom Angotti writes that Mayor Bloomberg has ambitious goals for solving NYC's affordable housing problems, but they may not be in step with today's real estate market.
Affordable Housing Gets Energy Retrofit in Boston
Castle Square Apartments in Boston is currently being retrofitted in what is said to be the largest energy savings project of its kind. The low-income housing towers are receiving $6.7 million from HUD's Recovery Act Green Retrofit Program.
More Renters Means Fewer Affordable Options
A new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) says that the number of Americans spending more than 50% of their income on housing is at an all-time high.
The Search for Modest Market Housing in Vancouver
In Vancouver, where rents and housing prices are moving beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, the search for proven ways to provide modest market housing is on.
Turning a Foreclosed Community Into A Sustainable Neighborhood
In the housing crash of 2007, Atlanta's Pittsburgh community was a focal point for mortgage fraud, mortgage defaults, and foreclosure. By forming a nonprofit community land trust, Atlanta is working to turn the neighborhood around.
Shipping Containers for the Homeless
A project now being considered by the City of Vancouver, B.C., would overhaul a handful of shipping containers to provide housing for the homeless.
Building in Affordability
Rebecca Cohen and Emily Salomon of the Center for Housing Policy examine existing policy tools to preserve and expand affordable housing near planned transit stations.
Preserving Affordability As Atlanta's BeltLine Takes Off
The Atlanta BeltLine brings much promise to the city of Atlanta, but will elevated housing costs be an unwelcome addition? Atlanta is looking to a community land trust to preserve affordability for the long-term near this new asset.
The High Cost of Unaffordable Housing
Joel Kotkin argues that planners too often ignore "the most critical issue" in housing.
Dallas YIMBYs Welcome Homeless
The Casa View Haven Neighborhood Association in Far East Dallas is taking the opposite approach from other local groups by welcoming homeless folks to their community and actively giving them support.
The Case Against Inclusionary Housing
Affordable housing mandates - "inclusionary zoning" - have been a popular way for cities to deal with high housing costs. But Stephen Smith says there are real market costs, and while the empirical work is in its infancy, it doesn't look promising.
Olympic Village Blasted for Missing Affordable Housing Targets
Housing activists in Vancouver are criticizing the city for only offering a small portion of the Olympic Village built for the 2010 Winter Olympics as affordable housing.
A Testing Ground for Affordable Housing Policy
Westchester County, a predominantly white and wealthy area of the New York City region, is trying out an array of techniques and zoning policies to ensure that its stock of affordable housing is dramatically increased in the coming years.
Predictions for California Planning in 2011
Paul Shigley of the California Planning and Development Report offers three predictions on what the state can expect to see in 2011 in terms of urban planning and development.
Controversial Housing Bill Advances in NJ
A law requiring New Jersey towns to ensure 10 percent of new units are affordable now awaits a vote by the State Assembly.
Hawaiian Queen's Trust Tries to Kill Affordable Housing
The Queen Liliuokalani Trust has spoken out against a 2,330 home workforce housing development on the island of Hawai'i. The Trust was the previous owner of the land, and says the project will be detrimental to existing locals.
Operational Issues Keeping Residents Out of Olympic Housing in Vancouver
Housing created for the Olympic Village in Vancouver was intended to be reused after the 2010 event as affordable housing. But the province hasn't been able to find an operator. Now the city wants to move ahead without the province's help.
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
