The hottest Zoning Substack posts right now

Manufactured homes can reduce home construction costs compared to site-built homes.
The theory that HUD code requirements caused manufactured home decline may not be accurate.
Improving financing and reducing zoning restrictions may not significantly increase manufactured home construction.

New York has a strong historic preservation law that protects many buildings, but it can also make it hard to build new homes in desirable areas. This creates a tough balance between keeping history and making space for more people.
Some new development plans, like the SoHo rezoning, try to add more housing while keeping important historic buildings safe, which could help both residents and the city's character.
There are better ways to work with historic buildings so new structures can fit in without getting in the way of preserving important parts of the city's history. It's about finding a middle ground where old and new can coexist.

Land reclamation involves draining swamps or wetlands to create more land.
Major American cities had land reclamation projects in the past.
Land reclamation faces challenges like environmental reviews, strict zoning laws, and costly dredging ships.

95% of Bay Area Cities lost zoning authority, allowing for more flexible residential construction rules.
Bay Area cities need to have their housing elements checked on specific deadlines to avoid zoning restrictions being lifted.
The Builder's Remedy eliminates discretionary subjective approval processes, allowing for more streamlined approval based on objective standards.

Prices reflect what people are willing to pay - based on inflation, incomes, and borrowing costs
Artificially low interest rates keep asset prices high through financial repression
Zoning issues and housing starts impact home prices, leading to economic problems

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The importance of transit-oriented development in addressing housing needs and housing policy challenges in regions like Alexandria.
Advocacy for zoning reforms and the need to view each other positively and collaboratively in solving the housing crisis.
Engagement in community planning and promoting diverse housing options to create inclusive, thriving neighborhoods.

Major rezoning law in California will open up most strip malls to housing
Two laws, AB 2011 and SB 6, offer different labor and housing requirements but both streamline approvals
AB 2011 allows for quicker housing development without parking requirements and immunity from lawsuits

Housing scarcity can be linked to weak property rights, like the Supreme Court decision on zoning.
The Supreme Court decision in 1926 upheld single-family zoning, prioritizing certain privileges for exclusive neighborhoods.
The opinion reflected class prejudice and focused on spurious arguments about traffic, still relevant in housing advocacy today.