Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.

Multifamily buildings with a single staircase don’t put residents at greater risk than double-staircase construction, according to a new study from Pew, contradicting a common belief that has led to restrictive zoning codes that outlaw single-stair buildings in most U.S. cities.
According to the Congress for New Urbanism’s Public Square, double stairwell requirements are “partly responsible for the dull, generic streetscapes” of most mid-rise neighborhoods because they “create large, long facades on a block that may suck the vibrancy out of streetscapes” and limit the amount of light that can enter the building.
Single-stairwell buildings can be built at a small-to-medium size in walkable neighborhoods. Single-stairwell buildings can fit onto small, irregularly shaped infill lots, contributing to missing middle housing.
In the past, “Cities required two stairwells for fire safety, but modern fire safety advancements and new building materials make the requirements superfluous.” Today, New York City, Seattle, and Honolulu are the only major U.S. cities to allow single-stair construction up to six stories, but the movement to legalize single-stair construction is growing, with bills to reform stair requirements proposed in jurisdictions including the Washington, D.C. region.
FULL STORY: Single stairs do not put residents at risk

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.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

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.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk
Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing
The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.
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