Density

How One Town Solved its ADU Regulation Challenges
Against opposition, the town of Durango, Colorado has successfully found a way to permit accessory dwelling units and legalize those that already existed under the radar.

ADU Development Reaches 'Fever Pitch'
Accessory dwelling units, also known as granny flats of mother-in-law units, are gaining popularity all over the country.

The Wonderful World of Vicious Circles
Government's pro-sprawl and anti-density policies often create problems that justify more of the same.

Revisiting a Pre-Recession Plan to Transform North San Jose
San Jose wants to remake the North San Jose neighborhood as "Uptown San Jose," but the amount of development that will require isn't proving an easy sell with some locals.

Environmental Lawsuit Against Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan Tossed by Judge
The Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, Minnesota Citizens for the Protection of Migratory Birds, and Smart Growth Minneapolis sued Minneapolis on environmental grounds after the city approved its landmark Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

California's Upzoning Bill, SB 50, Would Allow Apartment Construction in Wealthy Communities
The proposed legislation would open up cities like Palo Alto to higher-density housing.

Hammering Out the Details of New Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations
As Montgomery County, Maryland considers a new law to allow more development of accessory dwelling units. The devil is in the details.

Study: Housing Crisis Stems from Inequality (Not Zoning)
A new paper examines the impacts of broad economic trends—like inequality, job markets, and migration—on housing markets in the nation's major metropolitan areas.

Pop Quiz: Can You Identify Cities By Density Alone?
A Planetizen editor failed this quiz.

Transit Ridership Up in San Diego
Most of the U.S. saw public transit ridership continue its downward trend last year, but San Diego’s ridership, particularly on light rail, was up.

The Case for Fourplexes in Portland
Building more fourplexes could do a lot to fix Portland’s missing middle plan, one commentator argues.

Study: Density Can Impede Growth
Size and growth go hand in hand, until they don't, according to a new analysis. Density might be the reason that synergy eventually shortcircuits.

How, and Where, a Big Transit Oriented Density Bill Would Allow Change in Oregon
Analyzing the potential outcomes of Senate Bill 10, one of two statewide upzoning bills under consideration in the state of Oregon this year.

When Light Rail Comes to Suburban Washington, So Do Bigger Plans
Mountlake Terrace, located about halfway between Seattle and Everett, will soon have new building heights to go along with a new light rail station.

Accessory Dwelling Units Find Public Support in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington, a city of over 200,000 residents in the Pacific Northwest, is making room for more.

Putting in Condos Without Kicking Out Renters in Vancouver
Transit oriented development doesn’t have to mean evictions and demolitions for existing renters, but often it does.

The Case Against Rent Control
Rent control is gaining popularity in cities and states around the country. Some economists urge caution when considering this form of tenant protection.

Berkeley to Study Missing Middle Housing Options for Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods
The city of Berkeley, famed for its radical left politics in the 1960s, is now considered a bastion of anti-development obstructionism. Those politics could be changing, however.

Growth Plan Debate Heats Up in Toronto
The question of how and where to grow is causing controversy in Toronto. A recent op-ed picks a side.

ADU Results Fall Short of Intentions in D.C. Region
Accessory dwelling unit regulations vary but results are consistently underwhelming in the D.C. region.
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