Housing Supply

Accessory Dwelling Unit

The Untapped Resources to Add Hundreds of Thousands of New Housing Units

A new report explores the untapped housing opportunities for the region around New York City, and suggests planning tools for adding hundreds of thousands of housing units without building hundreds of thousands of new buildings.

August 3, 2020 - Regional Plan Association

Seattle Victorian

Limited Housing Supply Correlated with Higher Rates of Gentrification

For insights into the gentrification of U.S. urban areas, researchers studied high-income buyers of housing in lower-income neighborhoods. To slow gentrification, the housing supply must be boosted, say the researchers.

June 28, 2020 - Urban Institute

Eichler

The Housing Market During COVID-19: Supply Dips, Prices Rise

While fewer houses are being bought and sold in the first months of the pandemic, prices are on the rise as buyers find less supply available on the market.

June 10, 2020 - CNBC

Social Distancing

Overcrowded Housing Connected to Coronavirus Infection

"This is a housing disease."

June 2, 2020 - Inside Housing

Rich Suburban House

Tight Housing Market Could Prime Economic Recovery

A recession is coming, though we don't know how big it will be or how long it will last. Compared to the Great Recession, the housing market could potentially help, rather than hurt, economic recovery, according to the analysis shared here.

May 29, 2020 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Wood Construction

Proposed Mass Timber High-Rise In Seattle Adds Six Stories

A proposal for the development of a mass timber high-rise in First Hill is under community review in Seattle. The project, which adjusted plans to add an additional 6 floors, proposes the tallest mass timber building in Seattle.

May 21, 2020 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

San Francisco Housing

Housing Costs More Than a Matter of Supply and Demand

Does new market rate housing increase the average cost of housing, by inducing demand, or does it help stabilize the housing market by offering new supply? The debate continues in San Francisco.

May 13, 2020 - Curbed San Francisco

Hidden New York City

Massive Affordable Housing Effort in New York Faces Coronavirus Reckoning

A controversial but sweeping housing initiative in New York City, one of Mayor Bill de Blasio's signature initiatives, had a full head of steam before the coronavirus. Now it's facing drastic cuts.

April 29, 2020 - Politico

Apartment Construction

Increase Housing Supply Softened Rent Increases in D.C., Study Says

A study recently published by the District of Columbia offers supporting evidence to a supply-side approach to housing affordability in high-demand markets.

April 22, 2020 - District of Columbia Office of Revenue Analysis

YIMBY

Scott Wiener Hasn't Quit the Statewide Density Cause Yet

California State Senator has released draft legislation to follow up on the previous SB 50, which in turn followed up on SB 827. The new bill, SB 902, promises a "light touch."

March 11, 2020 - KQED

Basement Apartment

Illinois Could Force Statewide Legislation of Accessory Dwelling Units

State legislation would preempt local governments that block the construction of accessory dwelling units, known locally as coach houses, to increase the supply of affordable housing options in the state.

March 5, 2020 - Crain's Chicago Business

New York Harbor

Recent Studies Dig Into the Affordability Effects of Housing Developments

Several recent studies add fuel to the fire of whether market-rate housing helps affordability or drives low-income people from their neighborhoods.

February 18, 2020 - The New York Times

Texas Suburb

Texas Housing Market Starting to Resemble the California Housing Market

The hordes of people moving to Texas every year could soon encounter the same kinds of housing affordability challenges they left behind.

February 12, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Vacant Properties

The Vacancy Myth

Is the existence of vacant apartments an excuse not to build new housing?

February 10, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Bed Stuy in the snow

New Research Sheds Light on How Housing Filters Through the Market

The idea of filtering is key to pro-housing-development arguments of the benefits of market-rate housing to the affordability of housing. New research finds that filtering is highly variable depending on location.

February 6, 2020 - Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

New York Apartments

Tough Times for Low- and Middle Income Renters

The annual report on the rental housing market by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University shows how far and deep the housing affordability crisis has reached.

February 2, 2020 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Reimagining LA

Upzoning and Affordability, Explained

Upzoning is gaining popularity among planners and politicians in parts of the country as a tool for affordability. But some opponents of the idea maintain that new density will only make housing affordability worse.

January 31, 2020 - Curbed

Empty Homes

Vacancy Taxes as a Response to the Housing Crisis

Could vacancy taxes solve multiple housing challenges at once?

January 30, 2020 - WBUR

Virginia

Virginia Upzoning and Accessory Dwelling Unit Bills Killed Quickly in Committee

The Land Use subcommittee of the Virginia House of Delegates decided quickly to uphold local control of zoning.

January 26, 2020 - WAMU

Missing Middle Housing

Legislation to Lift Local Prohibition of Middle Housing Proposed in Washington State

Washington State is the latest example of a state that wants to preempt local planning law to make it easier to add housing units to single-family residential properties all over the states.

January 23, 2020 - Sightline Institute

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.

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

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

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