A record-setting amount of apartments in Chicago were converted into condominiums in 2005, and Mayor Richard Daley has formed a task force to limit the trend which is rapidly diminishing affordable housing in the city.
"Conversions have become a hot political issue in other cities, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where politicians and housing advocates have proposed moratoriums on such developments. It's not clear whether the task force would go that far."
A similar conversion boom in the '70s prompted a 40-day moratorium on condo conversions.
"More than a quarter of a century later, with Mayor Daley approaching a re-election campaign, affordable housing is a political issue again. The sustained real estate boom of the previous 10 years has pushed purchase prices - including those for converted apartments - beyond the reach of many in the middle-to-low income brackets."
FULL STORY: Daley seeks to slow condo conversions
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.
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.
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.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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