Mayor Setti Warren has a vision for his city that includes the opportunities that brought his parents to live in the city. That means more housing, affordable to various levels of income.
"Mayor Setti Warren on Thursday unveiled an ambitious housing plan for the city that he says will not only provide diverse housing options, but will help preserve the characteristics and values Newton has embodied," reports Ellen Ishkanian.
"The plan identifies 70 locations across the city as potential development sites," and proposes a mix of options in price, adds Ishkanian.
Mayor Warren presented the housing plan in response to increasingly expensive housing prices. The median price for a single-family house has reached $1.1 million—up from $855,000 in 2013. There are also only four rental units in the entire city available for rent. The article describes the mayor's motivation for the plan, and how it fits into other policy proposals from his administration.
The proposal already has political opponents. Ishkanian specifies the Newton Village Alliance, which has a mission "to preserve the character and scale of Newton’s villages and residential neighborhoods" and a track record of opposing developments in the city.
FULL STORY: Newton mayor unveils ambitious housing plan for the city

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.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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