Deciding to create an affordable housing trust fund is one thing, deciding how to fund it is another.
After approving an affordable housing trust fund last year, the Pittsburgh City Council is still looking for ways to fund the $10 million annual fund it set as a goal.
Adam Smeltz reports that the City Council hoped the Affordable Housing trust Fund would "go toward down-payment assistance, foreclosure prevention and other efforts to bolster housing for the city’s low- and moderate-income families."
Before the fund can become a reality, the City Council needs to decide on a proposed increase in the transfer tax to generate revenues for the fund. Also a possibility: using revenue from soon-to-expire tax credits. "Controller Michael Lamb’s office is assessing how much new revenue could emerge as tax relief designed to encourage development in 2007 comes to an end," reports Smeltz.
The City Council must approve a budget for the city, including the funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, by the end of the year.
FULL STORY: How to pay for an affordable housing fund? Pittsburgh council still weighing options
Pittsburgh Rolls Out Electric School Buses
Pittsburgh Public Schools has launched its first electric school buses, with plans to fully electrify its fleet over the next 14 months, aiming to create a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system supported by new charging infrastructure.
Pittsburgh Agencies Collaborate on Vision Zero Projects
The city reduced pedestrian deaths to seven in 2023.
Urban Farming Addressing Hunger (and More) in Pittsburgh
Urban farming provides opportunities to increase food security in addition to other benefits.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service