San Jose officials are having a hard time finding a neighborhood that will welcome an innovative approach to housing the local homeless population.
Ramona Giwargis reports: "Amid neighborhood backlash, city leaders have pared back one of San Jose’s most creative ideas for housing its thousands of homeless — erecting shed-like 'tiny homes' for them — from 99 potential sites [pdf] to just four [pdf]."
Since the city decided to move forward with tiny homes as a housing option for its homeless population in June, "finding sites for the tiny home villages — which could house up to 25 people — proved to be a major challenge." Giwargis explains more:
The city looked for publicly owned sites that were a half-acre in size, near transit and with access to utilities. But after an outpouring of complaints, San Jose officials added even more restrictions — 100 feet away from homes and creeks and 150 feet from schools and parks, leaving just a handful of potential sites.
The article includes soundbites from city officials expressing disappointment in the setback for the program.
FULL STORY: After backlash, San Jose reduces number of ‘tiny homes’ sites for homeless
Tiny Houses for the Homeless Planned for San Jose
The Bay Area's most populated city is taking a small step to house its homeless population.
Austin Selects Two Potential Sites for Sanctioned Encampments
The city plans to install temporary housing and facilities as part of its efforts to reduce homelessness and help people move into permanent housing.
Tiny Homes Village Planned in St. Louis
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson hopes to use CARES Act funding to 50 new homes for homeless living in 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.
This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio
Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
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