Housing + Cities
Boise’s New Zoning Code Sparks Surge in Permits for ADUs
Rules about who can live in them and where they can park were key barriers to backyard cottages.
It’s (Past) Time for British Columbia to Legalize Roommates
Another piece of the puzzle to make housing more affordable in the province—and keep up with southern neighbors Washington and Oregon.
Washington’s 2024 Short-Session Housing Wins
Three innovative bills carry forward the momentum of 2023 and complement its measures to legalize less expensive housing.
Unlock Middle Housing with Parking Reform
As long as parking is required, smaller, lower-cost homes are still illegal.
The Missing Piece of Oregon’s Housing Package: Legalizing Apartments
Gov. Kotek’s SB 1537 will do several useful things, but no longer directly lifts any local bans on apartment buildings. What happened?
Now Fully Funded, Portland’s Affordability Mandate Should Be a Model
Underfunded inclusionary zoning fails, but fully funded programs can be a boost to below-market housing and a fiscal bargain.
British Columbia Just Took First Place in Pro-Housing Policy
In just one month in 2023, the province legalized fourplexes, allowed apartment buildings up to 20 stories near all transit stations, eliminated public hearings for plan-compliant buildings, ended parking requirements in transit-oriented districts, and announced that it is considering single-stair reform.
Updated: Housing Bills to Watch in Washington in 2024
Numerous measures moving through Olympia would support more homes, in all shapes and sizes, throughout the Evergreen State. 
A Housing Agenda for Oregon: More Homes without Higher Prices
The usual way to get more homes built is wait for prices go up. But there is another way.
Inside Minnesota’s People over Parking Act, with Chris Meyer
Making the case for statewide elimination of parking mandates.
