A weekly digest of current trends in housing and community development. The discussion examines topics from infrastructure to community fabric.
America’s Future Cities: Where the Youth Population is Booming
(RECAP: Something dramatic happens as children age: They and their parents start moving to the suburbs in massive numbers. This is one reason roughly 23.9 million children below the age of 14 live in the suburbs of our 51 largest metro areas compared to 8.6 million in the core cities.)http://www.newgeography.com/content/004169-americas-future-cities-where-the-youth-population-is-booming
The Robot That Can Print a Real House in 24 Hours
(RECAP: Could 3D concrete printers provide solid shelter for the poorest and most vulnerable? Most goods—clothes, cars and appliances— are produced using automation. Homebuilding is the next frontier.)http://www.shareable.net/blog/the-robot-that-can-print-a-real-house-in-24-hours
Location Optimization Tools: Toward More Comprehensive and Multi-Modal Indicators
(RECAP: Households increasingly recognize the value of living in a neighborhood that offers good walking, cycling and public transit accessibility. Several organizations have recently developed tools to help homebuyers optimize home locations based on accessibility and related costs.)http://www.planetizen.com/node/67261
Ten things planners need to know about the future real estate market
(RECAP: Analysis suggests the growth in demand for new housing over the next 30 years will consist primarily of demand for smaller homes on smaller lots — a reversal of the type of demand that fueled sprawl in the late 20th century.)http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/kaid-benfield/20956/ten-things-planners-need-know-about-future-real-estate-market
New Assisted Living Model Cuts Cost Without Cutting Corners
(RECAP: A development company with deep roots in the senior housing industry has launched a new, more affordable assisted living model—with the same level of service, care and programming—achieved through suite sharing.)http://seniorhousingnews.com/2014/02/17/new-assisted-living-model-cuts-cost-without-cutting-corners/
The Promise and Potential of Social Impact Bonds
(RECAP: By only paying for success, a new funding tool known as "social impact bonds" that is gaining traction across the country shows real promise for moving the needle on longstanding social problems. This funding model gets better results with existing resources, minimizes risk to taxpayers and ends programs that are not working.)http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/voices/col-promise-potential-social-impact-bond.html