Land Use

Arizona’s ‘Car-Free’ Community Takes Shape
Culdesac Tempe has been welcoming residents since last year.

Dallas City Council Debates Comprehensive Plan
Some councilmembers worry the ForwardDallas plan will eliminate single-family zoning, but proponents say the proposed changes are necessary to maintain an adequate housing supply in the growing city.

The Changing Shape of American Suburbs
Housing costs and availability are pushing more American households, including young families, to suburbs and exurbs — and they’re demanding changes.

Former Convents Become Teacher Housing
For Catholic school teachers and other educators, housing costs can be a burden in many U.S. cities.

Utah Lawmakers Call for Housing on Public Lands
State lawmakers spoke out in support of a proposed federal bill that would permit housing development on federal lands.

The Promise of Urban Food Forests
Planting food-producing trees can offer both shade and a source of healthy foods in concrete-dominated neighborhoods.

DC Issues Draft Adaptive Reuse Regulations
A proposed tax abatement program would promote the conversion of office buildings to housing.

Atlanta Eliminates Parking Mandates Near BeltLine
Developments near the city’s popular greenway will no longer be subject to minimum parking requirements to make way for more effective development.

Pittsburgh To Develop Comprehensive Plan
The city voted to spend $6 million on a plan to address future development.

Des Moines Plans to Repurpose Downtown Parking Lots
City officials want to encourage the redevelopment of underused surface parking lots.

Assessing Houston’s ‘Climate Abandonment Areas’
Most of the census tracts designated at high risk of flooding are in less affluent neighborhoods.

A Survey of Texas Zoning Reform
Zoning changes at the local and state levels are making it easier and faster to build housing.

Proposed Legislation Targets Arizona Housing Crisis
A series of state bills address barriers to housing production including parking minimums and ADUs.

Opinion: Austin Zoning Reform Won’t Have Major Impact
Despite heated controversy, some experts believe the zoning changes made last year won’t make a significant dent in the local housing crisis.

How a National Zoning Atlas Can Clarify a Legal Patchwork
A massive effort is underway to compile local zoning regulations and other laws that impact how and where housing is built.

Revitalizing Suburban Office Space
Suburban office buildings are also losing tenants, but face some unique challenges compared to their urban counterparts.

Walkability Report Ranks NYC #1; Others May Surprise You
More surprising entries on the list include Houston and Los Angeles.

Church Housing Movement Takes Hold in Virginia
A Richmond-based congregation plans to build over 200 units on its property, and a proposed state law could lead to more projects like it.

Boston Cap Park Closer to Reality
The proposed Dorchester Greenway would create a new linear park above part of the Red Line subway.

California Housing Advocates Closely Watching Bay Area Rezoning Deadline
California’s reaction to cities that fail to submit compliant zoning plans could reverberate across the state as other regions near their deadlines.
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