April 2: What we’re reading this week
Some articles we found interesting this week:
There has been a lot of talk about converting empty office buildings into housing. This Assembly article explores how that is happening in some of NC’s largest cities.
Continuing with the conversion of office buildings into residential uses, here is a Washington Post article discussing barriers to making conversions possible.
Americans are Returning to Cities after Remote-work Exodus. Read it in the Washington Post.
NIMBYs Threaten a Plan to Build More Suburban Housing, in the New York Times.
Raleigh recently amended the regulations to reduce the barriers to building cottage courts. Here is a short video from Bloomberg’s CityLab of a similar concept, but with a unique approach to open space.
The national trend of cities eliminating exclusionary zoning continues with Arlington, VA. Read about it in the Washington Post.
Given the national trend to eliminate exclusionary zoning, here is an interactive tracking resource that follows zoning reforms across America.
Wake County Median Real Estate Price Drops $16,500 to $435,000, according to the Wake County Register of Deeds.
Most people argue that money drives politics, and that is often true. However, this article discusses how effective organizing can also be very powerful.
Here is a great explainer from the NC Planning Journal on the racial underpinnings of exclusionary zoning.
Triangle Housing Shortage Continues to Escalate Since the Onset of the COVID Pandemic, IndyWeek reports.
Some in Raleigh argue that BRT will accelerate displacement and gentrification. Here is research that suggests the impact of BRT on residential property values could be overstated.
There is often skepticism about reforms designed to make it easier to live car-free in car-centric cities. This Bloomberg article explores how Charlotte and Houston are trying.
Raleigh, like most cities, uses online surveys to gather resident input. Unfortunately, that often leads to overrepresentation of older, wealthier, white homeowners. This Citizenlab video explores effective online engagement strategies.