Planetizen

The DC Homeowners Selling Well Below Market Rates to 'Pay it Forward' - h/t Shelterforce Magazine As prices in the nation’s capital have soared, some sellers want their homes to stay in reach of families like their own. The Douglass Community Land Trust is helping them make it happen.

The DC Homeowners Selling Well Below Market Rates to 'Pay it Forward' - h/t Shelterforce Magazine

Los Angeles County Could Launch New Water Taxi for Olympic Visitors - h/t CBS News Long Beach is considering a new water taxi service to offer a sustainable alternative to driving for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, but the region remains far from a ‘car-free’ Olympics.

Los Angeles County Could Launch New Water Taxi for Olympic Visitors - h/t CBS News

Study: Houston’s Vacant Lots Worsen Heat Island Effect - h/t Texas A&M University Paved lots and abandoned buildings can raise surrounding surface temperatures as much as 20 degrees, according to a new study.

Study: Houston’s Vacant Lots Worsen Heat Island Effect - h/t Texas A&M University

Turning Equity into Affordability: D.C. Homeowners Are Giving Back to a Next Wave of Buyers - h/t Shelterforce Magazine As prices in the nation’s capital have soared, some sellers want their homes to stay in reach of families like their own. The Douglass Community Land Trust is helping them make it happen.

Turning Equity into Affordability: D.C. Homeowners Are Giving Back to a Next Wave of Buyers - h/t Shelterforce Magazine

London’s Superloop BRT Ridership Grows by 20% While Other Bus Ridership Declines - h/t Bloomberg CityLab The new rapid bus system launched its first suburban line, the first of 10 that will extend outside central London.

London’s Superloop BRT Ridership Grows by 20% While Other Bus Ridership Declines - h/t Bloomberg CityLab

The 5 Safest Cities for Cyclists in America — and What They Have in Common - h/t Momentum Magazine Cities with low fatality rates for people on bikes have made strong commitments to building safe, protected bike networks and supporting Complete Streets.

The 5 Safest Cities for Cyclists in America — and What They Have in Common - h/t Momentum Magazine

Nearly Half a Million New Arizona Homes Halted Due to Water Crisis - h/t High Country News The Arizona Department of Water Resources has put a moratorium on new water supply permits, making the future of planned residential developments uncertain.

Nearly Half a Million New Arizona Homes Halted Due to Water Crisis - h/t High Country News

Judge Blocks Trump Cuts to MTA Security Funding - h/t The Center Square A judge halted the Trump administration’s attempt to withhold transit security funds.

Judge Blocks Trump Cuts to MTA Security Funding - h/t The Center Square

SEPTA Forced to Suspend Fleet after Five Railcar Fires in One Year - h/t Insurance Journal Federal regulators told the agency to stop running its Silverliner IV fleet until it can identify and fix the cause of the fires, which forced hundreds of passengers to evacuate trains.

SEPTA Forced to Suspend Fleet after Five Railcar Fires in One Year - h/t Insurance Journal

“Skin, Like a City, Will Tell You if You’ve Ignored its History” Once an urban planner, Sean Colgrave traded in infrastructure for ink when he became a tattoo artist. Now he says: one profession has a lot to learn from the other.

“Skin, Like a City, Will Tell You if You’ve Ignored its History”

Seattle’s Zoning Reform Could Unlock a ‘Multiplex Boom’ - h/t The Urbanist A package of stackable density bonuses could make it easier for developers to build 12-plexes.

Seattle’s Zoning Reform Could Unlock a ‘Multiplex Boom’ - h/t The Urbanist

LA-to-Vegas High-Speed Rail Cost Jumps by $5.5 Billion - h/t Newsweek Brightline West is asking USDOT for a $6 billion loan to help cover rising costs.

LA-to-Vegas High-Speed Rail Cost Jumps by $5.5 Billion - h/t Newsweek

A Groundbreaking Southern California Land Trust Will Ready Formerly Incarcerated People for Housing Ownership - h/t Shelterforce Magazine CLT named after Ruchell "Cinqué" Magee, considered by many to have been the longest-held political prisoner in the United States, aims to create not just affordability, but belonging.

A Groundbreaking Southern California Land Trust Will Ready Formerly Incarcerated People for Housing Ownership - h/t Shelterforce Magazine

Trump Freezes $2.1 Billion for Chicago Transit and Infrastructure Projects - h/t ABC 7 The administration plans to revoke federal funding over what it calls “discriminatory, illegal, and wasteful contracting practices.”

Trump Freezes $2.1 Billion for Chicago Transit and Infrastructure Projects - h/t ABC 7

September Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month EV drivers can no longer use carpool lanes alone, Bay Area transit is saved — for now — by a $750 million loan, and a Florida commuter rail line loses its state subsidy, jeopardizing its future.

September Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

DoorDash Plans to Deploy Delivery Robots in Suburban Bike Lanes - h/t The Washington Post A new generation of delivery robot is designed to make longer trips and could compete with cyclists for bike lane space.

DoorDash Plans to Deploy Delivery Robots in Suburban Bike Lanes - h/t The Washington Post

Houston Trains Now Have to Stop at Red Lights, Risking 'Train Traffic Jams' - h/t Axios The city’s light rail trains no longer get signal priority, forcing them to wait through the entire light cycle at intersections.

Houston Trains Now Have to Stop at Red Lights, Risking 'Train Traffic Jams' - h/t Axios

Feds Terminate $7.56 Billion for Clean Energy Projects - h/t Smart Cities Dive The Department of Energy canceled awards to over 200 renewable energy projects.

Feds Terminate $7.56 Billion for Clean Energy Projects - h/t Smart Cities Dive

Nearly Half of Vacant Units in Rural Counties are Second Homes - h/t The Daily Yonder The relationship between housing costs and second home ownership rates is complicated.

Nearly Half of Vacant Units in Rural Counties are Second Homes - h/t The Daily Yonder

Northern Virginia's Unlikely Transit-Oriented-Development Success Story - h/t Greater Greater Washington A rail line has brought hundreds of new housing units and offices to the region.

Northern Virginia's Unlikely Transit-Oriented-Development Success Story - h/t Greater Greater Washington

In a Warmer, Wetter and More Disaster-prone World: “Nature is the Greatest Designer” A conversation with the American Society of Landscape Architects’ CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and board president Kona Gray.

In a Warmer, Wetter and More Disaster-prone World: “Nature is the Greatest Designer”

Portland Apartment Construction Plummets 54% - h/t Axios Growing material and labor costs and high interest rates are dramatically slowing the new multifamily projects.

Portland Apartment Construction Plummets 54% - h/t Axios

Denver, Colorado Bursts with Dozens of 'Food Forests' - h/t Civil Eats Denver Urban Gardens is building green spaces that clean the air and offer free, fresh fruit to neighbors.

Denver, Colorado Bursts with Dozens of 'Food Forests' - h/t Civil Eats

These Bear Safety Signs Illustrate the Impact of Good Design - h/t High Country News What makes a sign effective?

These Bear Safety Signs Illustrate the Impact of Good Design - h/t High Country News

NYC to Raise Transit Fares - h/t The New York Times The MTA board approved a 10-cent fare increase as part of a plan to increase revenue, claiming the agency loses $1 billion annually to fare evasion.

NYC to Raise Transit Fares - h/t The New York Times

San Diego County ADUs Account for Over 30% of New Housing Permits - h/t Governing A now-expired incentive helped boost ADU applications since 2021 while larger housing projects have stalled.

San Diego County ADUs Account for Over 30% of New Housing Permits - h/t Governing

The Rise of Crowdfunded Real Estate - h/t Shelterforce Magazine Enabled by provisions in the JOBS Act of 2012 that allow smaller scale investing, community members are becoming co-owners of local real estate projects.

The Rise of Crowdfunded Real Estate - h/t Shelterforce Magazine

Why US Transit Agencies Pay 'Inconsistent and Exorbitant Prices' for Buses Compared to Europe, Asia - h/t Bloomberg CityLab Inefficiencies in the procurement process, small contract sizes, and an emphasis on customization leads American transit agencies to pay more than double for the same vehicles.

Why US Transit Agencies Pay 'Inconsistent and Exorbitant Prices' for Buses Compared to Europe, Asia - h/t Bloomberg CityLab

Salem, Massachusetts Eliminates Parking Minimums - h/t Boston Globe An analysis found that the city’s real parking demand is around 0.85 spots per housing unit, far less than the 1.5 spaces required under the old zoning code.

Salem, Massachusetts Eliminates Parking Minimums - h/t Boston Globe

Feds Deny NYC ‘Every Dollar’ of Transit Security Funding Due to ‘Sanctuary’ Status - h/t StreetsBlog NYC DHS denied the MTA its request for funding under the Transit Security Grant Program despite the administration’s concern with transit safety.

Feds Deny NYC ‘Every Dollar’ of Transit Security Funding Due to ‘Sanctuary’ Status - h/t StreetsBlog NYC