Higher density is still a tough sell. What homebuyers want often is not what they getusually because they cannot find the type of home they want.
What homebuyers want often is not what they getusually because they cannot find the type of home they want in their market. A survey of 2,000 recent buyers of both new and resale homes sought not only to identify what homebuyers want and what kinds of communities appeal to them, but also to explore the gaps between what homebuyers want and what currently is available. The survey, by American LIVES, Inc., a California-based market research firm, compared homebuyers of master-planned communities, buyers of new construction homes, and buyers of resale homes, as well as the demographics of buyers. Natural open space, walking and biking paths, and sidewalks were at the top of the amenities list of the homebuyers sampled from Florida, Arizona, California (both the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles areas), Texas (Houston and Dallas areas), and Colorado. The same items that topped the list in a similar 1995 survey, these amenities were the ones that appealed to all survey respondents, regardless of what type of home they bought or what kind of community they currently live in.
Thanks to Urban Land Magazine
FULL STORY: Suburbia Observed

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.

Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.

Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.

Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland