The Census Bureau wants to be a friend to YIMBYs and NIMBYs alike.
A post on the U.S. Census Bureau Website written by Nesreen Khashan and Lia Bolden attempts to bridge the gap of controversy separating YIMBY from NIMBY in the contemporary housing debate.
"Census Bureau demographic, housing and socioeconomic data, as well as building permit and employment statistics, have become essential tools in housing movements, whether it’s YIMBY or NIMBY," according to the article.
The post begins with an anecdote about Victoria Fierce, a leading voice for the YIMBY movement in California and founder of East Bay For Everyone. The next anecdote examines the advocacy career of Michael Tsai, a member of South Bay YIMBY. Throughout the article's attention to YIMBY politics, Census data resources are referenced to describe the state of the housing market in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The article also discusses the benefits of Census data to established homeowners, (i.e., " existing homeowner and civic associations use data to promote appealing neighborhood features, YIMBYs rely on data to demonstrate that housing supply has lagged demand"), but doesn't allow the same kind of page space to allow homeowners or the leaders of slow growth organizations to support their case.
FULL STORY: Census Bureau Data Key to Housing Advocacy on Both Sides
How the Census Will Improve Race and Ethnicity Data for 2020
At the halfway point in the ten-year Census window, the Census Bureau undertakes research into how to improve its data collection for questions of race and ethnicity.
Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says
Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.
Upzoning Modestly Increases Housing Supply and Affordability, Study Says
A new study by researchers at the Urban Institute finds new evidence that upzoning produces housing supply and reduces costs, while downzoning does the opposite.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research