The U.S. Department of Justice is taking another look at a development decision made by the Louisville Metro Council in October 2017.
"The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice informed the Jefferson County Attorney’s office last week that it had initiated an investigation into potential race-based discrimination by Louisville Metro Council," reports Joe Sonka.
"The investigation will determine if the council’s vote last year to block an affordable housing development for seniors in Prospect was in violation of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race and other protected classes in zoning decisions," adds Sonka.
The Louisville Metro Council ignored the recommendation of the city Planning Commission in October 2017 when it rejected a proposal to rezone a property to allow a 198-unit, four-story affordable senior housing facility called Prospect Cove.
Fair Housing Act May Cover Renters with Criminal Records
The largest private landlord in the U.S. faces a discrimination suit for refusing to rent to people with criminal records.
Planning Fair: How Fair Housing Intersects with Planning
The successful implementation of fair housing laws requires the active participation of urban planners, land use boards, elected officials, and the wider planning community.
HUD Issues Fair Housing Guidance for AI
AI software used to select tenants or target housing advertisements has the potential to introduce discrimination and bias.
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.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
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