October 8, 2014

Beyond Bricks and Sticks





A weekly digest of current trends in housing and community development. The discussion examines topics from infrastructure to community fabric.


Trees! A real advantage in neighborhood revitalization

(RECAP: The conclusions of a study featured in the Wall Street Journal suggest ‘street trees’ make a clear difference. Through analysis, they were able to place a dollar value on how much the presence of trees positively influences real estate prices.) 
http://www.stablecommunities.org/blog_09_19_14

Report: Nearly 1 In 3 With Disabilities In Poverty

(RECAP: More than two decades after enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the nation has made significant progress in ensuring that places are physically accessible, but an investigation by the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee finds that major social and economic barriers remain.)
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/09/18/report-disabilities-poverty/19683/

Forget Liberals vs. Conservatives. One of the Biggest Cultural Divides in the U.S. Is Between Renters and Homeowners

(RECAP: Turns out Americans view their communities quite differently depending on whether they own or rent their homes. Looking closer at the results of the Atlantic Media / Siemens State of City poll, some key differences emerge between those who pay a mortgage and those who pay rent.)
http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/09/forget-liberals-vs-conservatives-one-of-the-biggest-cultural-divides-in-the-us-is-between-renters-and-homeowners/380188/

HUD embraces regulatory flexibility to encourage preservation of affordable rental housing

(RECAP: HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing recently issued guidance to create regulatory flexibility and encourage preservation of existing affordable multifamily properties. Changes in HUD rules will ease the burden on property owners trying to recapitalize aging assisted properties and maintain their long-term affordability.)
http://www.nhcopenhouse.org/2014/09/hud-embraces-regulatory-flexibility-to.html

How to sculpt a skyline: Arlington planners rethink Rosslyn

(RECAP: Rosslyn is the most prominent cluster of tall buildings in the Washington region, and with more development coming it's only going to get more substantial. To get Rosslyn right, planners must grapple with how the height and form of such tall buildings affects their surroundings.)
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24322/how-to-sculpt-a-skyline-arlington-planners-rethink-rosslyn/

No comments:

Post a Comment