Zoning changes can help cities achieve sustainability, equity, resilience and other goals: report

Though zoning reform can be “politically challenging and time-consuming,” a new report from Urban Land Institute and Smart Growth America gives examples from more than a dozen U.S. cities and tips for achieving success.

By Danielle McLean • March 24, 2023

How one real estate developer would fix the affordable housing crisis

By tweaking tax credit policy, legislators can help stimulate more apartment development, says the CEO of real estate development firm Alliant Strategic Development.

By Leslie Shaver • March 23, 2023

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

Tackling Salt Lake City’s affordable housing crisis with empathy and accountability

Facing a legacy of redlining and plenty of NIMBYism, Tony Milner brings extensive nonprofit — and personal — experience into his leadership of the city's Department of Housing Stability.

By Danielle McLean • March 23, 2023

A middle-income housing tax credit for developers gets multifamily housing association backing

National Multifamily Housing Council President Sharon Wilson Géno outlines the organization’s legislative priorities and why it considers rent control "a failed policy."

By Mary Salmonsen • March 21, 2023

Cities see hyperlocal ‘activity centers’ as key to sustainable growth, less car dependency

Most metropolitan area residents live within three miles of an activity center, according to Brookings Institution research. Officials are planning around such centers to help residents meet their everyday needs while driving less.

By Gaby Galvin • March 21, 2023

Mixed-use project breaks ground in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District

The Wynwood Plaza will feature a landscaped pedestrian thoroughfare by the designers of New York City’s High Line.

By Mary Salmonsen • March 17, 2023

Multifamily housing oversupply looms but will be short-lived, real estate firm says

Even with a surplus of multifamily development over the short term, an additional 2.3 million new units will be needed nationwide over the next 10 years, according to a new analysis.

By Jennifer Goodman • March 16, 2023

Arizona housing bill rejected by state Senate over affordability, local control worries

Gov. Katie Hobbs, D, also opposed the bill, telling reporters in February that she didn’t support “a one-size-fits-all approach” to address the state’s growing affordable housing and homelessness crises.

By Michael Brady • March 14, 2023

Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

By Zachary Phillips • March 14, 2023

HUD chief targets rental fees, tenant screening

Secretary Marcia Fudge says landlords should eliminate “duplicative, excessive and undisclosed fees” and identify “bottom-line” amounts tenants will pay.

By Leslie Shaver • March 13, 2023

More than $175B in housing investments in Biden budget proposal

One $10 billion mandatory measure would create incentives for state and local governments to eliminate barriers to affordable housing, such as restrictive zoning. 

By Michael Brady • March 10, 2023

The cities with the highest, lowest rental vacancy rates

The national vacancy rate has held relatively steady over the past four quarters, according to Census data.

By Mary Salmonsen • March 9, 2023

Affordable houses were scarce in 2022 due to mortgage rates, supply: Redfin

The number of affordable homes listed for sale in the U.S. fell 53% from 2021 to 2022, according to a Redfin report. Black and Hispanic households struggled with affordability more than White and Asian households.

By Michael Brady • March 6, 2023

The average apartment size is shrinking

Tallahassee, Florida, has the largest new apartments in the country at 1,182 square feet, while Seattle has the smallest at 659 square feet, according to a new study.

By Mary Salmonsen • March 2, 2023

‘Impossible to build’: REIT Vornado postpones mixed-use development planned for New York’s Penn Station

The Vornado development is part of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to redevelop Penn Station with tax revenue generated by the project.

By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 28, 2023

Seattle voters poised to approve public development authority for affordable housing

Initiative 135 creates a publicly-owned organization to develop, own and maintain housing for those earning up to 120% of the area's median income.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 24, 2023

ARPA fund spending shows regional differences in local government priorities, researchers say

Large cities and counties have spent the largest share of state and local fiscal recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on government operations. But their spending on other priorities diverges from there, researchers found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 23, 2023

New York City aims to improve access for people with disabilities to homeless shelters, affordable housing

Mayor Eric Adams signed four bills to create an accessibility advisory board, mandate signage for power-operated doors, and require new city-funded housing developments to use universal design principles, among other efforts.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 22, 2023

Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

By Michael Brady • Feb. 21, 2023

Homeless encampment sweeps costly and of limited long-term effectiveness, according to federal research

City spending on clearing encampments in 2019 ranged from $140,000 in Chicago to $4.9 million in San Jose, California.

By Karen Kroll • Feb. 21, 2023

Biden signs executive order to advance racial equity

The directive requires federal agencies to improve their community outreach, boost investments in underserved communities and address population displacement, among other initiatives.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 17, 2023

Baltimore exceeded homeless housing goals in 2022

The city found housing for 1,443 households experiencing homelessness in 2022 and added more than 2,500 affordable housing units to its development pipeline while receiving aid through a federal housing-first program.

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 16, 2023

Los Angeles eyes city properties for homeless shelters, housing

Mayor Karen Bass directed city officials to identify underused or unused properties the city could turn into shelters or permanent housing with on-site supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 14, 2023

Rents stay flat as landlords aim to cut costs

Rent growth declined year over year, while job growth remains strong and household incomes are stable, according to real estate technology company Yardi Matrix.

By Mary Salmonsen • Feb. 14, 2023

Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

The tenth Bloomberg CityLab — a global cities summit — will take place in Washington, D.C., this fall.

By Michael Brady • Updated Sept. 5, 2023