Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Development

$450 Billion in Federal Subsidies Tilt U.S. Real Estate Market Toward Sprawl

By Angie Schmitt | Jan 9, 2013 | No Comments

Real estate in the United States, it turns out, isn’t really guided by “the invisible hand” of the free market. In truth, federal policy puts a finger on the scale in a major way. Even apart from the quasi-governmental Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae, the federal government is the single largest investor in the American […]

Massachusetts’ Smart Plan to Promote Housing That Works for Young People

By Angie Schmitt | Nov 14, 2012 | No Comments

Eschewing the faddish steps local governments sometimes take to retain and attract young professionals, Massachusetts has cut to the chase with a common-sense plan. Governor Deval Patrick is catalyzing walkable residential development as an official state policy in hopes of retaining young people by appealing to their needs and preferences. Yesterday, Patrick announced a program […]

In Philly, Housing in Walkable Places Held Up Better Than Suburban Housing

By Angie Schmitt | Nov 9, 2012 | No Comments

It’s been a bad few years for homeowners around the country, and those in greater Philadelphia are no different. But people who owned houses in Philadelphia’s center city or suburban areas near a walkable town center fared better than others. According to a new report from the Congress for the New Urbanism, the homes in greater […]

Why It Can Be More Affordable to Live in an “Expensive” City

By Katie Pearce | Oct 19, 2012 | No Comments

So, how did Washington, D.C. — widely perceived as one of the most expensive cities in the country — end up topping a “most affordable” housing list? First and most importantly, adjust for average income levels. Then, factor in transportation costs. Using that formula, the D.C. region is tops among 25 American metro areas in […]

Federal Housing Administration Clears Way for More Walkable Development

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 15, 2012 | No Comments

Over the last five years America has seen an historic housing downturn, but the prevailing trend hasn’t sapped demand for walkable, urban development, especially in many larger metros. Until recently, however, Federal Housing Administration regulations made it difficult for developers to provide the kind of housing consumers are demanding. Now, thanks in large part to the […]

Coming Soon: “Nice, Cool and Chic” Ground Floor Parking in Boerum Hill

By Stephen Miller | Sep 14, 2012 | 38 Comments

An 85-unit residential building proposed for the corner of Bergen Street and Third Avenue in Boerum Hill sits just blocks from Atlantic Terminal, with access to nine subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road. But the city’s zoning requirements mandate at least 43 parking spaces for its 85 units, and the entire first floor of the […]

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