Massachusetts is seeing early results from a new housing law aimed at easing costs and expanding options. In just six months, more than 800 homeowners applied to build accessory dwelling units — small, independent spaces often called “granny flats” or “in-law apartments”[...]
Tag: Housing
Curio |
HOLY COW! HISTORY: The Deal of a (Very Long) Lifetime
Everyone loves a bargain, a bit of financial good fortune to the buyer’s advantage. When it’s exceptionally good, we call it the deal of a lifetime. Sixty years ago, a lawyer made an arrangement that he thought would quickly reap a highly[...]
Curio |
Minneapolis Fed to Hose Housing Needs and Opportunities Gathering in Bismarck
Housing pressures aren’t limited to big cities — small towns and rural communities are feeling the squeeze too. On November 6, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will host a daylong event in Bismarck, bringing together housing experts, local leaders, and researchers[...]
Curio |
Chicago eases parking mandates to spur affordable housing development
Chicago is taking aim at one of the quiet drivers of housing costs: parking mandates. A new policy eliminates minimum parking requirements for projects near CTA rail stations and high-volume bus routes, a move city leaders say will cut construction costs and[...]
News |
Amid continued statewide housing shortfalls, some hope for renewed efforts
North Dakota’s housing shortage isn’t just about numbers on a page—it’s about whether communities can grow, businesses can hire, and families can put down roots. While the governor pushed for more than $100 million in funding, the legislature trimmed it to $35[...]
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Curio |
Oregon moves toward state-level zoning in push for ‘missing middle’ housing
Oregon is stepping in to tackle its housing crunch with two new laws aimed squarely at boosting “missing middle” options—duplexes, townhomes, and small multi-unit dwellings that have long been squeezed out by restrictive zoning. The measures give the state power to override[...]
News |
Is the City the Problem or the Solution?
Housing debates often stall on the question of scale: should solutions come from the state, sweeping aside local barriers, or from cities themselves, learning to govern better from the ground up? Strong Towns argues the latter. State preemption, they warn, may win[...]
Curio |
On This Day | Building Boom Minot Leading the Housing Race
Since January 1, 267 building permits have been issued including 175 new houses; 35 houses moved in; 25 apartments for college; and 36 apartment buildings. Only 25 per cent of these units will be [...]Read More... from On This Day | Building[...]
News |
HUD secretary visits ND, talks about affordable housing access
North Dakota’s growing population has fueled demand for housing — and state leaders are working to keep supply and affordability in balance. During a recent visit, HUD Secretary Scott Turner joined local stakeholders to discuss ways to expand affordable housing, from boosting[...]
Curio |
No zoning code? That’s a problem, one Virginia city discovered.
Charlottesville set out to tackle its housing crisis by rewriting the rules—eliminating single-family zoning and parking mandates to make room for more homes. But now, that bold step is on hold. A missed legal deadline in a resident-led lawsuit has temporarily erased[...]
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Curio |
Maine clears the way for more multifamily housing, ADUs
In Maine, a few small changes to zoning laws could pave the way for a big shift in housing access. New legislation makes it easier to build accessory dwellings, multifamily units, and affordable housing—especially in commercial zones and transit-friendly areas. Gone are[...]
News |
Rubber Stamp Went Missing; Grand Forks Leaders Are Pushing Back Against Housing Incentive Program
Grand Forks leaders are navigating a delicate balancing act: how to support new housing while being mindful of taxpayers’ wallets. The County Commission has followed the School Board’s lead in rejecting—but not closing the door on—tax breaks for a proposed apartment development[...]
Curio |
Small-Scale Housing Wins Big in Bend, Oregon
When Jesse Russell set out to build four tiny homes in Bend, Oregon, he ran straight into zoning rules that made it nearly impossible. But that challenge sparked a larger effort—one that helped reshape Bend’s approach to growth. Thanks to local leadership,[...]
News |
This Canadian City is Ditching Red Tape for Rowhouses
Building a modest rowhouse shouldn’t take years—but in most North American cities, it often does. Calgary just changed that. Starting this fall, builders in new neighborhoods can skip an entire layer of red tape if their plans already meet zoning rules. It’s[...]
Curio |
On Housing, Stop Banking on Subsidies and Start Building What Works
Housing costs are crushing communities nationwide, but while politicians argue about grand solutions, real progress is happening quietly in places like Norwalk, Connecticut. Thomas Blyth isn’t waiting for Washington to fix his city’s housing crisis—he’s mapping out a practical path forward that[...]
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Commentary |
Sprawl Is Still Not the Answer
Calls to embrace urban sprawl as the solution to America’s housing shortage are gaining steam—but critics say it’s a costly detour. While “just build everywhere” may sound simple, the environmental and economic consequences are far from it. Sprawl eats up farmland, fuels[...]