Affordable Housing

Cleveland 4th Street St. Patrick's

Can Density Prevent Diabetes?

In Australia, a new study will determine the best ways to make high-density developments healthy places to live.

May 7, 2018 - Diabetes.co.uk

Seattle, Washington

Amazon, Seattle Go to War Over Proposed Tax

Amazon, a company with cities throwing money at its feet all over the country, has decided to halt construction on an expansion in its hometown over a proposed "head tax."

May 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Downtown Miami

Miami's Affordable Housing Crunch

Despite new construction, Miami homes remain stubbornly expensive. An opinion piece for Next City makes the case for community land trusts as a solution.

May 2, 2018 - Next City

Wealthy Neighborhood

Looking for a Starter Home in Dallas? Good Luck

According to a new study, fewer than 10 percent of homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are priced for first-time buyers.

May 1, 2018 - The Dallas Morning News

Construction

The Best Option in a Housing Crisis: Build More

Some oppose housing on the grounds that building in expensive cities just makes more homes for rich people. According to and, while there's some truth to that, adding housing beats the alternative.

April 30, 2018 - Vox

Retro Streetcar

Tenant Advocates Turn in Signatures for Rent Control Ballot Measure in California

The measure would repeal the 1996 Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control ordinances. Repealing the act would allow cities with rent control to consider expanding rent control to provide tenants greater protections.

April 28, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Gated House

Older People Have All the Wealth

"And you know why they made the new twenties? Cause I got all the old ones."

April 27, 2018 - City Observatory

Trailer Park

How Mobile Homes Fill a 'Critical Gap' in Affordable Housing

Cities across America have a housing crisis on their hands—should they be talking more about trailer parks?

April 27, 2018 - CityLab

Los Angeles

Could Los Angeles Have Made Better Use of Former Redevelopment Funds?

After a state decision to abolish California's redevelopment agencies seven years ago, Los Angeles still received some of that money, directing it to city services instead of affordable housing.

April 26, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Takes a Step Forward on Affordable Housing Promises

The city of Charlotte has a funding gap to make up if it wants to keep its promises about how much affordable housing to build or maintain in the short term.

April 25, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

BART Train

BART's Transit-Oriented Development Bill Sets Disturbing Precedent, Says APA

AB 2923, which would allow the Bay Area Rapid Transit District to rezone their properties near stations for transit-oriented development, passed its first committee. The California chapter of APA objects to the preemption of local land use authority.

April 23, 2018 - California Chapter of American Planning Association

No Luxury Condos

America Has Nowhere Near Enough Extremely Low-Income Housing

More than a quarter of renter households in the United States earn 30 percent or less of area median income. And no state in the country can house them.

April 23, 2018 - The Washington Post

Texas

Dallas Housing Proposal Aims for Equity, Finally

Not only does the plan promise more affordable housing, it’s also supposed to deliver “access to more upwardly mobile communities."

April 23, 2018 - Next City

San Francisco

Homes, Not Parking

The Balboa Reservoir is the perfect spot for housing in San Francisco, Nicole Lindler argues, and the notion that it should remain a surface parking lot shows badly disordered priorities.

April 21, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Denver TOD

Denver to Use Marijuana Taxes to Underwrite Affordable Housing Bonds

Mayor Michael Hancock has proposed a funding scheme to ramp up affordable housing production in the city of Denver.

April 17, 2018 - The Denver Post

Legislation Would Ensure California Housing Construction Keeps Pace with Population Growth

A companion bill to the controversial SB 827, also introduced Sen. Scott Wiener (D-S.F)., could have a similar impact on housing production but hasn't gathered nearly as much attention. SB 828 makes critical changes to the state's housing supply law.

April 14, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Louisiana State Senate Votes to Preempt Locals on Inclusionary Zoning

Earlier this week, the Louisiana State Senate approved SB 462, which preempts local authorities from approving inclusionary zoning.

April 13, 2018 - The New Orleans Advocate

Downtown Philadelphia

Philadelphia Leaders Announce Affordable Housing Package—Inclusionary Zoning Not Included

Philadelphia will create a one percent "construction impact tax" to help fund affordable housing projects around the city.

April 13, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Texas Townhomes

California Bill Seeks to Facilitate 'Missing Middle' Housing

Affordable housing developers are increasingly asked to build middle-income units, but can't afford to do so.

April 10, 2018 - Mercury News

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco to Grant Low-Cost Housing Preference to Artists

A new program underway at the San Francisco Arts Commission would make it easier for artists to gain access to the city's stock of affordable rental and ownership opportunities.

April 5, 2018 - KQED

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.