Housing


  • A city street lined with small storefronts. People walk across the street at a crosswalk.
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    World photo via Getty Images
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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 Dec. 6, 2024
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 5, 2024
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    jamesteohart via Getty Images
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    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
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    M_a_y_a via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 27, 2024
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    Jacus via Getty Images
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    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
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 25, 2024
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    Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 8, 2024
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 5, 2024
  • Aerial image of multifamily buildings lining the streets. Behind the homes is a large body of water.
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    Skyhobo via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 1, 2024
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    Retrieved from Governor Gavin Newsom.
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    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 Oct. 30, 2024
  • A shift to remote work has softened the demand for office space, accelerating the need for commercial-to-residential conversions.
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    Fang Xia Nuo via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 22, 2024
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    adamkaz / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    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
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    simonkr via Getty Images
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    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
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    Vyacheslav Dumchev/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    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
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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
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    Retrieved from Pixabay.
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    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
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 8, 2024
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    Wallentine via Getty Images
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    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
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    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 , Oct. 1, 2024
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    efrederiksen via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 1, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 Sept. 27, 2024
  • A row of homes with a red sign in the foreground that reads "FOR RENT."
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    Feverpitched via Getty Images
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    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
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    Retrieved from Governor Gavin Newsom.
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    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 Updated Nov. 7, 2024
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    Google Maps

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    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
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    Tunatura via Getty Images
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    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
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    evrim ertik via Getty Images
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    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 Sept. 13, 2024