The city worked with the owners of an apartment building to maintain lower rents so longtime residents would not be displaced after renovations.
"The City of Detroit is giving a $1.4-million tax subsidy to an apartment building owner to ensure special rent deals for about 45 low- and moderate-income tenants, who might otherwise be forced to leave the 18-story tower when it goes upscale," reports JC Reindl.
The Elmwood Club Plaza Apartments, a senior housing project funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, was built in the 1970s. Several years ago, the building’s units switched to market-rate rental apartments, and planned renovations have left longtime residents facing the possibility of huge rent increases.
A tax abatement will freeze property taxes at current rates and keep rents lower for current residents. "The arrangement at Elmwood Club is one result of Detroit officials' policy push in recent years to compel private developers to set aside portions of newly built or newly renovated apartment buildings — typically 20% — for tenants who can only afford cheaper rents," notes Reindl.
FULL STORY: Detroit uses landlord subsidy to save renters from gentrification
Charlotte Neighborhood Faces Uncertain Future
Neighborhoods like Cherry in the fast-growing city of Charlotte are faced with intense pressures in the real estate market. The city is scrambling to craft a plan that can leverage the city's assets to the benefit of the whole city.
Louisville Launches ‘Anti-Displacement Tool’
After a years-long, tenant-led effort, Louisville will use a new tool to analyze whether a proposed housing development can meet a neighborhood’s housing needs and income levels. If it doesn’t, the city won’t subsidize it.
Beltline Surpasses Annual Affordable Housing Goal
The Atlanta Beltline agency is actively working to prevent the displacement of longtime residents along the trail system, where property values are rising rapidly.
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.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
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