Obama's brand new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities admits to being inspired by Portland's groundbreaking urban planning policies.
Amy Hsuan of The Oregonian reports on HUD chief Shaun Donovan's visit to the urban planning mecca, where he announced the creation of a new HUD office on sustainable development.
"'We at HUD are big admirers of what you're doing here,' Donovan said.
The new office takes the community values that Portlanders have long held dear to the federal level.
Backed by $200 million, the office plans to study smart growth and put money toward helping communities across the country develop mass transit lines near affordable housing -- the type of urban planning Portland has practiced for years."
Local housing officials welcomed this new policy as a way forward, and also recognized the importance of bringing HUD's reform measures not only to inner cities, but also to struggling suburban communities.
Thanks to Deepa Mehta
FULL STORY: HUD chief comes to Portland to unveil sustainable community program
Head of HUD Gives One Condition to Future Grants: Sustainability
In an interview, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan says that federal money will only go to those who embrace sustainability.
Move Over Suburbia... For "Prefurbia"?
Twin Cities developer and software guru Rick Harrison believes that, through innovative urban design configurations such as 'coving,' suburban areas can be transformed from "disdainable to sustainable."
Rethinking Suburban Development: New Trends in Creating Livable Communities
Discover new trends in suburban development focused on creating more livable, sustainable communities for future growth.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research