With its first office-to-housing project done, Chicago advances ‘next chapter’ for its downtown

The adaptive reuse project in the city's Loop has 117 mixed-income residential units. More conversions are in the pipeline.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 29, 2026

Pittsburgh eyes quicker permitting with virtual inspections and a ‘fast lane’ for low-risk projects

The first set of changes "will help applicants spend less time waiting and more time getting projects done," Mayor Corey O'Connor said.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 25, 2026

Explore the 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

The US homeless population is aging. Cities must brace for new challenges.

Older adults are facing a “perfect storm of stressors” that could lead to more housing instability and homelessness, according to panelists at a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies webinar.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 24, 2026

More high-rises could be coming to 7 California cities under housing density bill

The bill would prevent major cities from limiting residential building heights to under 150 feet in new transit hub districts. It's awaiting the governor's signature.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 22, 2026

Manufactured housing must be allowed in cities under new Texas law

Cities will maintain control over where the affordable housing type may be located within their jurisdictions.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 17, 2026

D.C. landlords agree to $9.3M settlement over RealPage rent-setting allegations

Mid-America Apartments and JBG Smith agreed to financial penalties and restrictions to resolve allegations they used the technology to inflate rents and share confidential housing data. 

By Julie Strupp • Sept. 16, 2026

Airbnb’s $250M housing accelerator program to start in Austin, Texas

The short-term rental company is committing the long-term investment toward multifamily housing development and pledged support for local pro-housing policies.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 15, 2026

To speed development, Prince William County, Virginia, is nixing a ‘waiting period’ for legal review

Residential and commercial developers can receive a conditional approval stamp for projects moving through pre-construction processes while legal reviews are still underway.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 14, 2026

After rent emergency declaration, San Francisco mayor proposes reforms

As an AI boom pushes median rents higher, Mayor Daniel Lurie is proposing $30 million in investments and reforms to curb rising evictions and “sudden rent spikes.”

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 11, 2026

2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs

Addressing energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement, these initiatives exemplify the innovation that helps cities and counties improve residents’ lives.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2026

The Smart Cities Dive Awards

To highlight notable people and projects in U.S. city, county and regional government, Smart Cities Dive presents the Public Service Awards and the Community Project Awards.

By Rachel H. Pollack • Sept. 10, 2026

How one Florida county is using data to help vulnerable residents keep their homes

An early-warning system in Jacksonville, Florida, uses AI to protect generational housing from institutional investors. The initiative is a 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winner.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 10, 2026

Homeless services contracts to get a ‘reset’ in San Francisco

The city plans to reissue more than $500 million in annual grants and contracts, with an emphasis on outcomes.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 8, 2026

Fair housing construction accessibility complaints now have a deadline, HUD says

Accessibility claims related to multifamily building design and construction must be filed within one year of the initial certificate of occupancy, the new guidance says.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 4, 2026

For affordable housing fund, Cleveland embraces private partnerships

The city launched a fund to build up to 3,000 affordable housing units using leftover American Rescue Plan Act money.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 2, 2026

Social housing program gets city task force sign-off in Portland, Maine

The task force encouraged the city to establish pilot programs aimed at complementing the “tools that we already have” to address affordable housing, a city councilmember said.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 31, 2026

New Mexico is short 58K homes. Streamlined permitting can help, study says.

Reviewing housing projects on a case-by-case basis is slowing down production in localities, a report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University suggests.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 28, 2026

Rents are rising faster in Chicago than other US cities. The mayor wants rental reform.

The proposed reforms target “hidden junk fees” and establish an administrative body to handle rental complaints. Industry groups are pushing back.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 26, 2026

HUD homelessness tool kit downplays housing-first models, emphasizes addiction treatment

“Housing is essential, but housing alone is not enough,” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 25, 2026

Municipal facility planning amid funding and workforce scarcity

Local leaders need a new playbook as facilities age, experts retire, and federal funding disappears.

Aug. 24, 2026

3 California cities sued over alleged violations of state housing rules

Housing advocacy groups say these cities are attempting to limit the impact of a new state law designed to increase housing density near transit.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 21, 2026

Illinois city leaders balked at statewide housing reforms. A Realtors group wants to work with them.

Illinois Realtors’ Housing Supply Accelerator Program aims to work with local governments on updating their housing regulations. “The battleground is local,” its president says.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 20, 2026

ADUs had a banner year in LA County. It’s not enough to fill the housing gap, study says.

Nearly 40% of housing units added in the county last year were accessory dwelling units, according to research from the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 18, 2026

Seattle bans rental ‘junk fees’

The new transparency ordinance eliminates administrative service charges, pet rent and package fees and requires upfront pricing for tenants.

By Julie Strupp • Aug. 17, 2026

Extreme indoor heat is a housing violation, Arizona warns landlords

The state’s most recent lawsuit against Tucson landlords reflects a nationwide movement to establish maximum indoor temperatures for rental housing.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 17, 2026