Housing
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New York City makes sweeping zoning changes to address housing crisis
The plan approved Thursday creates the nation’s most populous area without parking mandates for new residential construction. It also eases office-to-residential conversions and allows more density.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 6, 2024 -
To tackle housing affordability challenges, Ohio local governments take regional approach
A new coalition will focus on “breaking down siloes and maximizing resources,” according to the city of Columbus, Ohio, one of the local governments involved in the entity.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 5, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Seattle encourages co-living housing with new law
Young people looking to live in popular neighborhoods and retirees seeking community are among those who may be interested in co-living, a Washington state lawmaker said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 27, 2024 -
US office conversions could be up 63% in 2024 as cities remove barriers, real estate company says
Chicago’s LaSalle Street Reimagined project is an example of how municipal support can spur conversions and build mixed-use communities, a CBRE report says.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Can AI help prevent homelessness before it happens? Los Angeles County is finding out.
The county and University of California, Los Angeles, researchers are working to direct scarce homelessness prevention resources toward the people who need them most.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 25, 2024 -
Denver to invest $570M in downtown revitalization after voters pass bond measure
The city plans to use newly authorized bond financing to invest in housing, local entrepreneurs, new businesses and public spaces.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 8, 2024 -
National Housing Crisis Task Force unveils agenda for next president, Congress
The federal government must “fundamentally restructure” its organization to address the housing crisis, according to recommendations from 28 public, civic and corporate leaders.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 5, 2024 -
Boston’s affordable housing preservation efforts are seeing results
Other cities and states nationwide should learn from the success of a program that helps “mission-driven” developers purchase rental properties, one community advocate said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 1, 2024 -
California pours $827M into local homelessness response with increased accountability measures
The state is collecting monthly data on how communities spend the money and whether investments make a measurable difference.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 30, 2024 -
Office-to-residential conversions are tough. Could dorm-style co-living be the answer?
Microapartments with shared bathrooms and kitchens could suit service workers, retirees and young professionals and cost 25% to 35% less than converting offices to traditional apartments, Pew and Gensler researchers said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 22, 2024 -
The multifamily housing-related ballot measures that passed, and failed, on election day
Eight out of 13 major housing-related measures were approved in jurisdictions nationwide during this week’s election.
By Mary Salmonsen • Updated Nov. 7, 2024 -
Philadelphia bans rent-setting software, joining San Francisco
The software lets residential landlords indirectly coordinate, raising rents, lowering occupancy rates and increasing evictions, lawmakers say. San Francisco’s ban is in effect, while Philadelphia’s awaits the mayor’s signature.
By Mary Salmonsen • Updated Oct. 30, 2024 -
Opinion
Eviction data is lacking. Here’s how local governments can help.
Local leaders need to understand the magnitude of the housing crisis in their area to act on it, a Princeton Eviction Lab representative says.
By Camila Vallejo • Oct. 14, 2024 -
Why California’s governor shot down a bill aimed at ramping up adaptive reuse projects
Converting commercial buildings to residential or other uses may have become even more complicated under the bill, local officials said.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 9, 2024 -
EPA requires lead pipes to be replaced nationwide within 10 years
The landmark rule imposes the strictest limits on lead in drinking water since federal standards were set 30 years ago.
By Julie Strupp • Oct. 8, 2024 -
California allocates $131M to local homelessness response efforts
The state will also reimburse local governments for cleaning up encampments on state land, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 8, 2024 -
New California laws tighten renter protections
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed multiple bills into law. A major remaining question is whether voters will approve an upcoming ballot measure to expand local governments’ authority to enact rent control.
By Mary Salmonsen • Oct. 3, 2024 -
2025’s top smart city conferences
Smart city technology, housing, climate action, road safety and more will take center stage at events already announced for next year.
By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski • Oct. 1, 2024 -
As Los Angeles struggles with RV encampments, a new California law aims to help
The law allows the city to lease state transportation department property for $1 a month to securely store recreational vehicles formerly inhabited by people experiencing homelessness.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 1, 2024 -
HUD extreme heat playbook focuses on increasing resilience in housing
The guidance identifies potential federal funding sources and example projects that it says could work elsewhere across the country.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 27, 2024 -
Research points to the downsides of rent control
A review of over 100 studies shows the various negative impacts of policies that regulate rent, including that they can drive up prices in uncontrolled units nearby.
By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 23, 2024 -
California sues city for banning new homeless shelters
Norwalk, California’s ban on shelters and other housing violates several state laws, according to California, which first threatened legal action against the city in September.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Nov. 7, 2024 -
Apartment complex owners sue New Jersey town over new fees
Among other requirements, landlords in Edison must pay $100 per unit per year under a new housing ordinance.
By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 16, 2024 -
Minnesota bans pot smoking, vaping in multifamily properties
The move is a first of its kind among states, although 85 California municipalities have banned smoking in multifamily units, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation.
By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 13, 2024 -
Low-income families face high energy burden, prompting calls for more government action
One in four low-income U.S. households spends more than 15% of their income on energy bills, finds an analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 13, 2024