The revised ordinance calls for higher density and more affordable housing.

Writing in The Cavalier Daily, Brandon Kile outlines the new zoning ordinance passed by the Charlottesville City Council, which “will allow for greater diversity in types of housing as well as require the inclusion of affordable housing in some future developments.”
The ordinance calls for higher housing density on commercial corridors and a 10 percent affordability requirement for buildings with ten or more units.
“By building more homes within city limits, we can make progress on our goals of bringing down housing costs, shortening commutes, reducing car dependency and helping the environment,” said Council Member Natalie Oschrin.
The ordinance is facing opposition from some residents who say the council did not fully consider the impacts of the new law. According to Oschrin, “I understand that people can be afraid of changes, but this is a historical correction to housing policies that were founded in racism and designed to perpetuate economic inequity,” adding that residents should “be excited about the future” of Charlottesville.
FULL STORY: New zoning ordinance garners mixed reactions from the Charlottesville community

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.

Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.

Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.

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.

Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
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