The hottest Urban Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

YIMBY to windfarms

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Environmental Policy Urban Development
  1. Many people support wind and solar energy, but they often oppose having them in their own communities. This is called NIMBYism, which stands for 'Not In My Back Yard.'
  2. Wind farms can actually boost the finances of local towns by increasing tax revenues, which helps pay for local services and infrastructure.
  3. When towns have more money from wind farms, they can invest in growth, leading to more jobs and lower property taxes over time, making it beneficial for residents overall.

San Francisco and Miami. Hot or not?

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 84 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
💼 Business Real Estate Economics Housing Market Urban Development
  1. The Case-Shiller home price index shows Miami hitting new highs while San Francisco has been declining.
  2. Both San Francisco and Miami have low housing production, with Miami consistently slightly higher in construction than San Francisco.
  3. San Francisco's construction activity seems to be waning, despite expectations for increased housing due to YIMBY wins and new state laws.

On Solarpunk #9

On Solarpunk • 78 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Urban Development Environmentalism
  1. Freiburg, Germany has sustainable neighborhoods like Vauban and Rieselfeld with eco-friendly designs and low car usage.
  2. In the US, there are few similar projects to Freiburg like Ithaca's Ecovillage and Culdesac Tempe, showcasing alternatives to traditional housing.
  3. Community involvement and advocacy played a crucial role in shaping Vauban's development, showcasing the importance of public engagement in sustainable housing projects.

Remembering the Palisades

Natural Selections • 12 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Community Nostalgia Childhood Urban Development
  1. The Palisades was a vibrant neighborhood with places like Mort's Deli and The Hot Dog Show, creating a sense of community and fond memories.
  2. Significant changes, including fires, have destroyed many landmarks in the Palisades, leaving a lasting impact on the residents and the area's character.
  3. The aftermath of such disasters raises questions about housing and recovery for people who have lost their homes in an already expensive city.
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Tell me what you want (in this publication)

The New Urban Order • 39 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
💼 Business Urban Development Real Estate Environment Social Impact Consulting
  1. The author is looking to engage with their audience through new ways like podcasts and events in 2024.
  2. The publication features a diverse range of subscribers with unique backgrounds and focuses, such as urban housing design, homelessness initiatives, and carbon footprint awareness.
  3. There is a call for readers to share their thoughts and preferences through a short survey, encouraging engagement with the publication.

Recent Research Curiosities

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
💾 History Historical Events Urban Development
  1. There was a secret code used by miners in the 1890s that raises questions about corporate espionage or just a fun way to communicate. It included strange words that make you wonder what they really meant.
  2. The Central Building in Seattle had a unique 'Chamber of Commerce Observatory' that offered views of the growing city rather than the stars. It was a place to see the opportunities in Seattle's development.
  3. A visit to the old observatory found it empty but still with great views. It used to be a public space but now could be a nice spot for writers to observe city life.

At First You Don't Succeed

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 17 Nov 22
💾 History Urban Development Architecture Engineering Photography Local history
  1. Building projects can face lots of unexpected problems, like the Montlake Cut in Seattle, which had issues with the ground underneath.
  2. Sometimes things just don't work out on the first try, as seen when workers had to build new cofferdams multiple times before finally succeeding.
  3. Patience and safety are important, especially in big projects, as rushing can lead to dangerous situations for workers.

Street Notes 5: Hot for District Cooling in Austin, Texas

Parachute • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Urban Development Renewable Energy
  1. Infrastructure and climate solutions often go unnoticed when they work well, but stand out when they fail.
  2. District cooling is like neighborhood-wide air conditioning and can lead to lower utility bills and help prevent power outages.
  3. District cooling plants offer benefits like space-saving, resilience to power outages, and should be celebrated as an efficient climate solution.

"We need 'affordable' housing, not market rate housing" is much worse than it seems.

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 105 implied HN points • 03 May 23
💼 Business Housing Affordability Displacement Urban Development
  1. The cost of housing in a city with ample supply is determined by resident incomes and allows for comfortable spending.
  2. In cities with housing shortages, the cost of housing is determined by other residents' incomes, leading to displacement and competition.
  3. Constructing new market rate housing can help flatten the cost of housing for all income levels and break the chain of displacement.

The consumption basket we call "housing"

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 63 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
💼 Business Housing Market Urban Development Housing supply
  1. In expensive cities, people oppose public amenities because they can lead to displacement when bundled with scarce housing.
  2. A city's housing demand can be categorized into shelter, neighborhood amenities, metropolitan area scarcity, and endowments.
  3. Metro area scarcity causes prices to rise uniformly across neighborhoods, impacting affordability for households with lower incomes.

Shipping News

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 139 implied HN points • 12 May 22
💾 History Cultural History Archaeology Urban Development
  1. Ballast is the heavy material ships carry to keep stable, and it has been made from various materials over time, like rocks, bricks, and even lentils in ancient times.
  2. In Seattle, ballast rocks from trade ships resulted in an area called Ballast Island, which became a refuge for Native people displaced by urban development.
  3. Ballast has often been overlooked and discarded, even though it holds many stories about history, trade, and the connections between places.

YIMBies Overpromise

Wooly's Post Repository • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
💼 Business Real Estate Data Analysis Housing Market Urban Development Economics
  1. The data on housing prices and construction can be confusing and counterintuitive, leading to difficulties in drawing clear conclusions.
  2. YIMBY goals require a significant amount of construction to impact housing prices, but achieving such high construction rates can be challenging.
  3. Confidence in real estate research should be lowered due to the complexity and potential errors in the data, making it important to approach conclusions with caution.

no. 43: too good to refuse

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 21
💼 Business Real Estate Restaurants Urban Development Property Rights Economic Impact
  1. Property rights in real estate are distributed in ways that differ from typical property, with value determined by the surrounding environment.
  2. Restaurants play a significant role in gentrifying neighborhoods, contributing to their perceived desirability and financial value.
  3. Developers often provide incentives for restaurants to move in, as it can increase the overall value of the property and provide branding for the neighborhood.

Roadways for People: Rethinking Transportation Planning and Engineering

Exasperated Infrastructures • 12 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Engineering Community Engagement Urban Development
  1. Transportation planning needs to prioritize community input and engagement to build successful projects.
  2. Traditional linear planning methods may not consider the holistic impact on communities.
  3. Effective transportation projects require rethinking project goals to focus on safety, dignity, and community needs.

Why Michigan Central Matters to Detroiters

Midwest Humble • 2 HN points • 06 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Urban Development Societal Change
  1. Michigan Central Station used to symbolize Detroit's decline, standing empty for years until Ford bought it to create a tech campus. This shift sparks mixed feelings among locals.
  2. Some Detroit residents want to keep the old identity tied to the train station and their memories, while others look forward to a new identity focused on innovation and growth.
  3. The community is concerned about change affecting local culture and businesses, balancing nostalgia for the past with hope for a brighter future.

What's holding America's freeway removal movement back?

Urben Field Notes • 10 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Community Public Health Environmental Impact Urban Development
  1. Pioneering freeway removal projects are being completed, but more difficult challenges remain
  2. There's a need for a stronger response to concerns about displacement and gentrification in freeway removal projects
  3. There is a lack of attention on the pollution and public health impacts of urban freeways, requiring clear data for advocacy

Rust belt of tech in America

Madhur’s Writings • 3 HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Economic Impact Remote work Small businesses Tech industry Urban Development
  1. The shift to remote work due to Covid has negatively impacted small businesses in downtown areas.
  2. Tech layoffs and remote work culture are contributing to the decline of social aspects and liveliness in big cities.
  3. Analogies to the Rust Belt area show how remote work could lead to population decline and decline in city vibrancy.

Office to Residential Conversions

Arpitrage • 1 HN point • 05 Nov 23
💼 Business Real Estate Urban Development Government Policy Economic Analysis Environmental Impact
  1. Cities are considering converting older office buildings to residential spaces to address urban challenges like reduced foot traffic, high carbon emissions, and housing affordability.
  2. Local and federal policymakers play vital roles in facilitating these office to residential conversions through regulatory changes, property tax relief, and financial incentives.
  3. Conversions may face challenges due to interest rate shifts, building constraints, and alternative real estate uses, but proactive measures can help make them financially viable.

Sadiq Khan's Third Term: Transforming London into a Zero-Carbon Capital

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Urban Development Sustainability Public Health Energy Efficiency
  1. Sadiq Khan wants to make London a zero-carbon city by 2030. This means cutting pollution and making the city cleaner for everyone.
  2. The plan includes building more affordable homes and providing free meals for young children. These steps aim to create a fairer city for all residents.
  3. London is part of a global movement to reduce emissions and improve air quality. This collaboration encourages cities to share ideas and work together for a healthier planet.

The Triumph and Tragedy of Light Rail in Charlotte

Urben Field Notes • 0 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
💼 Business Urban Development Public Transportation Real Estate
  1. Charlotte's Blue Line light rail has transformed the city with new neighborhoods and development.
  2. Value capture in transit planning could have financially benefited the public more in Charlotte.
  3. City policies in Charlotte missed opportunities to generate funds from the success of the Blue Line and support affordable housing.

The Price of Delay

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Regulation Economics Urban Development Public Policy
  1. Housing regulations slow down construction and make planning harder for developers. This uncertainty discourages them from investing in new buildings.
  2. A new study shows if we reduce approval wait times, it could lead to significantly more housing being built. However, there are questions about how realistic these estimates are.
  3. Clearer regulations could make a big difference in housing supply. Countries with more straightforward building laws tend to have better housing outcomes.

An insider's guide to NYC's quirky rental laws

Tranquil Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 23 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Urban Development
  1. In NYC, many leases require you to cover 80% of your floor with carpet to keep noise levels down. This helps prevent annoying sounds from neighbors above.
  2. Landlords in NYC must provide heat and hot water at specific temperatures, making sure your apartment stays warm in winter. This is stricter than in many other places, like London.
  3. Tenants in NYC often pay broker fees that can be between 8-15% of their annual rent, unlike in places like the UK where landlords typically cover these fees.

Theo Belci: Vessel JR

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Satire Gentrification Urban Development
  1. The artwork 'Vessel Franchise' by Theo Belci aims to critique gentrification and corporate influence on art in New York City, turning real-estate brochures into art pieces.
  2. The project consists of three images and a memo that satirize the impact of large-scale art projects on affordable living spaces and countercultural development in the city.
  3. Theo Belci's work reflects on the continuous transformation of New York City, highlighting the push towards soulless corporate construction over artistic and community-oriented spaces.