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

Office-to-residential conversions often hinge on government cooperation

Adapting offices for residential use is often more difficult, more expensive and less profitable than new construction, one developer said.

By Dan Rosenbaum • Feb. 13, 2023

San Francisco announces downtown revitalization strategic plan

Mayor London Breed said the downtown road map contains nearly 50 initiatives and nine strategies for revitalizing the neighborhood in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 10, 2023

Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

“Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 9, 2023

Pittsburgh office-to-residential conversion fund begins to accept bids

Pittsburgh’s redevelopment agency is accepting funding applications from developers looking to convert underutilized downtown office buildings into affordable residential housing.

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 8, 2023

Philly launches digital tool to ease building permitting process

The pilot aims to improve access to information about necessary permits, approvals and other requirements for some residential and commercial projects, the city said.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 7, 2023

Top 10 metro areas for construction starts

Even when adjusted for inflation, commercial and multifamily construction starts were robust in 2022 as projects moved back toward urban cores, according to a new report.

By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 6, 2023

California approves San Francisco’s plan to build 82,000 homes

More than half the homes will be affordable units for low- and moderate-income households, helping the region meet its affordable housing goals.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 3, 2023

Florida Republicans propose state rent control ban with affordable housing funding and incentives

Senate Bill 102 would prohibit local rent controls and use tax incentives, gap financing and additional state funding to boost affordable housing. Affordable housing advocates say the proposal leaves renters vulnerable.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 2, 2023

2023 Smart Cities Outlook

In the year ahead, city leaders will face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage and changes in travel behavior and decarbonizing transportation and buildings.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 1, 2023