Sets of pre-approved housing plans can lower construction costs, shorten timelines, and encourage more badly needed housing production.

As more cities turn to pre-approved ‘housing catalogs’ to streamline permitting processes and stimulate more housing production, Molly Bolan describes the not-so-new concept in Route Fifty. As Bolan explains, “In the early 20th century, Sears, Roebuck and Co. published catalogs with home designs. Customers could choose a plan and send away for the materials to build their ‘kit home.’”
In recent years, cities such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Stockton have developed their own catalogs of pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and other ‘missing middle housing’ types aimed at reducing costs for homeowners and making it easier to build new housing units.
The Sears Catalog homes inspired the city of South Bend, Indiana to create a “catalog of pre-approved plans for infill housing in an effort to incrementally increase housing stock in their neighborhoods without fundamentally changing the character of those communities,” says Tim Corcoran, the city’s community investment planning director. According to Corcoran, “The plans are geared to smaller lots that are common in cities, rather than the larger plots that exist in the suburbs.” The city hopes the catalog will lower ‘soft construction costs’ and incentivize more housing construction.
FULL STORY: ‘Housing Catalogs’ Make a Comeback

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
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