What does it mean for housing planning if your county gets Amazon's second headquarters? Virginia's Loudoun County contemplates that possibility with a mix of confidence and trepidation.

As Loudoun County revises its comprehensive plan for the first time since 2001, it's also girding itself for the possibility that it'll draw the golden ticket in Amazon's vaunted HQ location search. As Renss Greene writes, "Amazon's direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of the campus is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding community, according to the company."
On the housing front, the new comprehensive plan adds under 9,000 homes prior to 2040. But regional planners are confident that enough multifamily units can be added to accommodate Amazon, including along D.C. Metro's Silver Line. In any event, there's a high likelihood that an Amazon HQ would only bump housing prices higher than they currently stand. And then there's the question of whether newcomers will actually utilize multifamily housing in Loudoun, which would compete with units closer to D.C.
Adding to the uncertainty, "Loudoun's elected leaders and economic development staff have refused to disclose what offers the region has made to Amazon." That has some stakeholders in the county's rural west worried about eventual suburban encroachment.
FULL STORY: Planning for the Amazon Housing Equation

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions
Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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