Even though it's simplified, Inside the Rent provides a window into the logic of developers trying to get apartments built in New York City. The game's creators emphasize its educational value.
New York's Citizens Housing and Planning Council (CHPC) has released a virtual simulation that lets players take the reins on a hypothetical housing development project. Constructed with data from real-world developers and architects, Inside the Rent has players set a palate of prices and then try to break even.
According to its creators, the simulation is intended to be an educational platform, especially for politicians. A representative from CHPC emphasized that "Not enough people know exactly how construction costs and rent relate to each other—and this includes those who are making crucial decisions on housing policy."
However, the relatively simple game doesn't quite mirror reality. "Sarah Watson and Daniel Parcerisas, both from the Citizens Housing & Planning Council, acknowledged that the game is oversimplified [...] For instance, the tax abatement option in the game doesn't correspond to the controversial 421-a program completely." In addition, "Parcerisas mentions that zoning is not a part of the game at all, and he hopes to incorporate it in future versions."
FULL STORY: Develop a Virtual Rental Building—and Just Try To Break Even
NYC Rents Rising at Twice the National Rate
New York renters are being squeezed out as landlords raise rents by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.
Experts Express Pessimism Over Housing Costs
Although the current housing crisis has been compared with the housing crash of the late 2000s, experts caution that affordability issues could plague the U.S. housing market for years to come.
A 'Housing New York' Report Card
The de Blasio Administration set lofty goals for the creation and preservation of housing in New York. So how's that going?
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