Neal Peirce says its time to bring back the "rooming house" and other alternative housing options as an alternative to the single-family home.
"Unquestionably, tens of millions of oncoming youth will disconnect from the American vision of home as a "homestead" - the self-contained units of our pioneer forbears, translated since World War II by a suburban home occupying its own staked out lot," writes Peirce.
Peirce talks with urban designers and developers who are implementing this idea now:
"In Seattle, developer Jim Potter has put up several buildings specifically for people in their 20s, assuming their basic need is a safe place to sleep that has a private bath. The units are a few hundred square feet in size, rents (WiFi included) just $500 a month. There's a very compact kitchen in each unit, but in ancient rooming house tradition, larger shared kitchen as well."
FULL STORY: Bring Back the Rooming House?
In This New Co-Living Partnership, Friendships Are the Ultimate Amenity
Kin, a new partnership between the real estate company Tishman Speyer and the co-living company Common, bets that residents will accept smaller living spaces in exchange for a community borne out of in-house sharing-economy amenities.
Larger Apts., Less Density
New "Lifetime Homes" standards in the U.K., which are designed to accommodate people at all stages of life, will lead away from ultra-small flats to larger apartments, says Builder Magazine.
1984 in a New York Apartment Building
Rockrose Development Corporation in New York sees itself as in the business of creating community in its buildings. But some tenants have found that if you're critical of Rockrose, you might find yourself on the street.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.
How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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