The city is leveraging height increases and density bonuses to acquire more properties for affordable housing.

If the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approves a proposed deal with developer Related California, the firm will move forward with the construction of a new mixed-use tower near Van Ness Avenue and Market Street. According to J.K. Dineen of the San Francisco Chronicle, as part of the deal, Related would purchase a nearby lot and give it to the city to use for affordable housing.
“Under the agreement between Supervisor Dean Preston and developer Related California, the height of an approved tower at 98 Franklin St. would increase from 365 feet to 400 feet, which would allow the developer to increase the number of units by 40 — from 345 to 385.” The building would house the French-American International School, the lot’s owner, on its lower floors. The lot that Related plans to donate to the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development is the site of a former McDonald’s on Van Ness, approved for 168 residential units.
Dineen notes that other developers are looking for similar ways to boost the profitability of increasingly expensive units by increasing the height and density of their projects. Meanwhile, city leaders see this type of agreement as an effective way to gain affordable housing stock and guide smart, equitable growth. “This is something we are going to see again and again,” said a spokesman for Mayor London Breed.
FULL STORY: S.F. could be getting another tower after developer trades affordable housing site for additional height

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.