Housing
Quantifying the Potential of California’s ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ Bill
A new report estimates that 171,000 acres of land would be available for housing development if California approves SB 4, Affordable Housing on Faith and Higher Education Lands Act of 2023.
Post-Pandemic Home Building Trends: More Bedrooms, Smaller Homes
U.S. homes are adding bedrooms while getting smaller, according to two seemingly contradictory articles published on the same day from different data sources earlier this month.
Austin’s ‘Affordability Unlocked’ Initiative Faces Lawsuit
A group of 18 plaintiffs is suing to overturn the city of Austin’s “Affordability Unlocked” planning initiative.
Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan Update Attracts Opponents
An updated version of the Charlottesville comprehensive plan update is now available for public comment, and a recent article in the local paper lets plan opponents air their grievances.
ADUs, Minimum Lot Sizes, and Quadplexes Under Discussion in Traverse City
Zoning changes for everything from housing density to minimum lot sizes are under consideration for a city on the shores of Lake Michigan.
New Research Builds Evidence for Zoning Reform
Cityscape has published a collection of new research building support for zoning reforms as a tool for mitigating the effects of the housing affordability crisis.
Atlanta Advances Automobile Alternatives; Parking Minimums Persist
The Atlanta City Council passed a pair of ordinances recently to improve conditions for modes other than cars, but a proposal to remove parking requirements for development around the Atlanta Beltline are in limbo.
Meeting Housing Goals by Loosening Commercial Zoning
Torrance, a city on the coast of Southern California in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, recently adopted a zoning overlay that will relax commercial zones to allow more residential development.
Conversions Eliminated Over 100K Housing Units in New York City
Apartment-to-house conversions are contributing to a net loss of housing in some of the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Alexandria Set to Reveal Zoning Reform Details
The city will hold a series of public meetings this fall to explain its efforts to boost housing production and affordability.
Montreal Developers Prefer to Pay Rather Than Build Affordable Housing
Housing advocates say a 2021 bylaw aimed at building more affordable housing units is too lenient, letting developers opt out by paying a fee some consider too low.
How the Housing Crisis Impacts Family Life
More Americans are opting for multi-generational co-living, in large part due to rising housing costs.
HUD Approves L.A. Housing Voucher Changes
The city requested changes to federal housing voucher approvals to streamline the approval process for people experiencing homelessness.
Pandemic Relief Programs Prevented Homelessness Despite Housing Burden
A new study highlights the important role of emergency relief funding and eviction bans in stemming the rise of homelessness even as more families became housing-insecure.
Five Years of California’s Landmark Land Use Law, SB 35
It’s been five years since the California Legislature approved Senate Bill 35 to clear hurdles to housing construction. How much of its intentions has the law accomplished, and what should planners look for in the next few years?
Boise City Council Defers Source-of-Income Discrimination Ban
The council asked for a more detailed policy, expressing concern about the added burden on smaller landlords and the housing supply.
Missing Middle Housing Reforms Move Forward in St. Paul
The St. Paul City Council will soon consider a legislative package designed to increase the density of residential neighborhoods, following in the footsteps of its twin city, Minneapolis.
Proposed Zoning Consolidation Scaled Back in Anchorage
A revised, scaled-back version of a zoning reform effort in Anchorage would concentrate the proposed consolidation of residential zoning districts in one part of the city.
Iowa City Hopes Zoning Amendments Will Increase Housing Supply, Diversity
Iowa City is planning ahead to ensure that housing supply keeps up with housing demand.
Massachusetts Pushing Statewide Zoning Reforms With Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance
Massachusetts is one of the states in the nation requiring local governments to make more space for multi-family housing. Not all local governments are willing to comply, however.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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