The program is aimed at helping local and state governments spur housing construction by reducing regulatory barriers.
A $100 million round of federal grants will target state and local efforts to boost housing construction through eliminating regulatory barriers, reports Kriston Capps in Bloomberg CityLab. According to Capps, “Actions across a number of cabinet-level agencies will address permitting, financing and regulations in order to speed up construction.”
Instead of funding individual projects, the goal is to build long-term capacity for increasing the supply of homes organically by providing carrots to cities to reform their zoning ordinances. For example, leaders in Bend, Oregon, received a $5 million grant to develop a five-year plan to ramp up housing construction and address ongoing infrastructure limitations.
The program aims to support local governments in zoning reform efforts. “The HUD and the Department of the Treasury are also expanding low-cost federal financing available to state and local housing agencies through an innovative public-private risk-sharing initiative that has seen tens of thousands of new affordable housing units built since 2021.”
FULL STORY: Biden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing Construction
The Rise of Zoning Reform
As the housing affordability crisis spread from mainly coastal cities to the rest of the nation, cities and states are taking a serious look at outdated zoning codes that hamper efforts to build more housing.
Lawsuit Aims to Stop NYC’s ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reforms
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New Jersey Affordable Housing Law Turns 50
The Mount Laurel Doctrine tasks each city and town with creating enough affordable housing to meet their needs, but half a century after its passage, the law still faces opposition in some parts of the state.
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.
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service