Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ann Arbor’s zoning ordinances require that every new development include a certain number of parking spaces per housing unit. This subsidizes driving by making housing more expensive, exactly the wrong thing to do in a housing shortage. It is also contrary to our climate goals. We are therefore delighted that Ann Arbor City Council hasContinue reading “House people, not cars”

A lot of recently constructed buildings in Ann Arbor feature six-bed apartments. Why? Are renters really clamoring for apartments they can share with their five best friends? There’s more than one reason, but one of the causes is a quirk of our zoning regulations. To understand, let’s take an example: the City Place apartments atContinue reading “Why all the six-bed apartments?”

Let’s simplify our planning process to encourage more equitable development By Kirk Westphal, former Ann Arbor City Council Member and Planning Commissioner If we are learning anything from our regional housing affordability crisis, it’s that we need more housing—a lot more. At the core of our crisis is the fact that the number of housingContinue reading “Less Talk, More Housing”

This post was written by Scott Trudeau. Scott is a former Ann Arbor City Planning Commissioner, and a current trustee of the Ann Arbor District Library. The views presented below are his own. The housing affordability crisis is a complex problem and one that has no single solution. People and households vary across what theyContinue reading “Support Housing Abundance: A Guide to the June 7, 2021 City Council Agenda”

It’s been a busy and challenging summer. So perhaps you missed a few recent articles about how zoning affects housing affordability? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few thought-provoking pieces of writing from the past few months. Deng, et al., “Op-Ed: For climate and Affordability, Reform Zoning,” Michigan Daily, June 19, 2020.Penned by aContinue reading “recap of summer reads on housing diversity and affordability”