New Rochelle housing surge proves predictable zoning’s impact

New Rochelle embraced the abundance mindset long before the “yes in my backyard ” crowd made it cool. Today, the city, 25 minutes north of New York City by train, is a reference point for how zoning reform and predictable approvals can speed mixed-income housing production citywide. The city built on a 2015 rezoning that […]

Ivory Prize honors solutions in a higher rate, higher risk backdrop

Ivory Prize honors solutions in a higher rate, higher risk backdrop
The affordability crisis in American housing demands more invention, more experimentation and more scalable models to break through the chronic chokeholds of economic, building-technology, and political will. The hard truth is that, against a backdrop of a harsher-than-expected new-home sales season and a higher-for-longer interest-rate environment, the operating environment is making it harder to fund, […]

After pushback, New Hampshire course-corrects pro-housing laws

Last year, New Hampshire lawmakers jumped on the bandwagon of state legislatures targeting a worsening housing shortage by mandating that local governments permit multifamily housing in commercially zoned areas. The effort sought to boost housing supply and improve affordability by stripping away local zoning authority. Local governments, true to the state’s “live free or die” […]

Sparks flare over Florida law to target idle golf courses for housing 

A bill overriding local zoning authority to allow housing on idle Southeast Florida golf courses drew little public attention during Florida’s legislative session. When the Infill Redevelopment Act passed, warnings over problems it could cause bubbled up, but only in limited circles. It passed in March without a single “nay” vote in the Senate and […]

State zoning preemption tested as Colorado lot bills fail

After years of pushing housing affordability reforms, Colorado legislators hit a wall — crashing up against the limits of how much zoning control they could strip from local governments. This year, they sought to require most cities to allow single-family homes on lots as small as 2,000 square feet, about a third the size of […]

North Carolina Let Them Build Act targets environmental reviews

As North Carolina House Democrats take another swing at sweeping housing reform, a Democratic senator is seeking to streamline environmental reviews to accelerate construction. Sen. Woodson Bradley filed the “Let Them Build Act” on Thursday afternoon, days after House colleagues filed a bill titled “Relieving Housing Bottlenecks” to address the state’s affordable housing crisis. For […]

Colorado lawmakers act to reality-check Prop 123 housing targets

Nearly four years ago, Colorado voters approved a special fund to address the affordable housing crisis following Covid-19. Meeting the fund’s objectives, however, proved harder for participating cities than expected. State legislators are now scrambling to fix that. The Senate passed House Bill 1313 on Thursday with amendments. It is headed back to the House, […]

Minnesota zoning reform push for starter homes falters

A third go at trying to reboot starter-home construction in Minnesota is on life support at the state Legislature, with supporters scrambling to revive it before the session ends. High-profile zoning reform bills failed in a House committee and missed key Senate deadlines late last month, potentially dooming the effort as had happened over the […]

Pritzker’s honor: Illinois housing reform fight intensifies

The fight over Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s sweeping housing reform agenda is intensifying as both sides harden their positions. Supporters and detractors by the thousands delivered their opening arguments Thursday at the first major hearing on Pritzker’s six-bill package. Pritzker’s BUILD plan seeks to lower costs by making construction easier and faster statewide. It would […]