City officials say the pause on permits for redevelopment projects aims to stop the displacement of long-term residents.

A “quietly released” memo from the Denver Community Planning and Development department signals a plan to stop approving higher-density projects in some West Denver neighborhoods. According to an article by Joe Rubino in Governing, the move is an effort “to stem the tide of gentrification trends in the historically Latino area.”
The memo announces a pause on rezoning approvals until “more affordability tools to preserve and/or create affordable housing are available to be paired with rezonings to higher intensity districts.”
Proponents of the moratorium say it will help slow the displacement of residents in the area, while critics argue that limiting the development of multi-family housing is exacerbating the housing crisis. “Home values in the West Area Plan neighborhoods increased 155 percent, on average, from 2010 to 2022, a period when home values skyrocketed citywide. But that spike has corresponded with a rapid decline in ethnic diversity in the area,” Rubino explains.
Advocacy group YIMBY Denver says the best way to limit the impact of gentrification is not to stop development in certain neighborhoods, but to eliminate single-family zoning to make it easier to build new housing everywhere in the city. “In 2025, CPD is undertaking a “missing middle housing” project aimed at fostering a more gentle increase in density in appropriate places.”
FULL STORY: Despite Housing Shortage, Denver Puts Brakes on Dense Development

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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