Briarcliff Summit, built in 1925, has 200 units that are falling apart. Are the owners taking advantage of federal housing subsidies? Should the building be restored? If so, how will residents be impacted?
"Briarcliff Summit's owners are looking to sell the nine-story, 200-unit apartment building, and real estate experts speculate that the market is ripe for it to be converted into something more in tune with the gentrifying neighborhood (think trendy loft apartments). In the meantime, two big questions remain: Will the building regain its prominence on Ponce? And if it does, what will happen to the longtime, elderly residents who call it home?"
Despite problems, "the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which administers the vouchers used by Briarcliff Summit's residents, gave the building a 'satisfactory' grade in its most recent inspection report, which a HUD spokesperson says is consistent with what the building has earned in the past.
Residents claim that, because the building's owners are guaranteed income from federal vouchers, they do little to maintain the building. What's more, most residents have incomes of only a few hundred dollars a month and cannot afford to move."
FULL STORY: Ponce gem may be restored
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.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service