affordable housing project case study

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Housing and Urban Planning

Successful Affordable Housing Projects Case Studies

Affordable housing remains a critical issue in urban planning and development. Successful projects not only provide shelter but also foster community and support sustainability. This article examines several standout initiatives that demonstrate effective strategies and innovative approaches in the creation of affordable housing.

Savonnerie Heymans, Brussels, Belgium

Savonnerie Heymans is a prime example of adaptive reuse, transforming a former soap factory into a vibrant residential complex. This project in the heart of Brussels features 42 low-energy units, including apartments, lofts, and maisonettes, catering to a diverse demographic. The complex emphasizes community through features like a mini-forest garden, playgrounds, and communal spaces, which encourage social interaction and community events. Its sustainable design includes solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, showcasing an integrated approach to affordable, green living​.

Quayside Village, Vancouver, Canada

Quayside Village in Vancouver focuses on social equity by providing a mix of affordable and market-rate units. This community-friendly project features wheelchair-accessible designs and intensive recycling systems. The layout includes a common house and communal areas, promoting interaction among residents. Importantly, the project takes advantage of the site’s previous materials, incorporating features like stained glass and reused wooden doors, making it a beacon of sustainable community housing​​.

Tetris Apartments, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Inspired by the game Tetris, this project by OFIS architects is a standout for its creative design and effective use of space. Located in a strategic urban area, the apartments feature balconies oriented to optimize privacy and views. The use of economical materials and the ability for residents to customize their living spaces reflect a commitment to affordability and personalization​​.

Phoenix Estates II, Bronx, New York

Phoenix Estates II utilizes zoning incentives to maximize floor area ratio, allowing for a mix of affordable units for seniors and families. This $33 million project not only provides housing but also features ground-floor spaces for art galleries, enhancing community engagement and cultural access​​.

Frost Terrace, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Frost Terrace creatively integrates modern construction with historical architecture. The project features a range of affordable units, some of which are reserved for Section 8 voucher holders. It uses Massachusetts’ fast-track permitting process and targets LEED Gold certification, illustrating a commitment to both speedy development and environmental sustainability​.

Warley Park, Sanford, Florida

As the first permanent supportive housing community in Central Florida, Warley Park addresses homelessness with comprehensive services like mental health care and job training. This project includes amenities like a splash pad, playground, and food pantry, which serve both practical needs and enhance the quality of life for residents​​.

These case studies illustrate the diverse approaches to creating successful affordable housing projects. Whether through adaptive reuse, innovative design, or comprehensive community services, these projects provide more than just housing—they foster communities and promote a sustainable, inclusive future for urban living. Each example serves as a model for overcoming the multifaceted challenges of affordable housing development, proving that with creativity and commitment, it is possible to make substantial improvements in the lives of low-income individuals and families.

Winton Gardens Towers, Rochester, New York

Winton Gardens Towers is a rehabilitation project that took two dilapidated towers and transformed them into a thriving senior community. The $28.5 million investment upgraded the facilities with modern, energy-efficient appliances and systems, and enhanced security features. Beyond physical renovations, the project focuses on community enrichment programs, offering classes in financial literacy and health, reinforcing the role of social housing in community development​.

Fair Oaks Commons, Redwood City, California

Fair Oaks Commons sets a benchmark in streamlined approvals, being the first in its county to utilize California’s SB 35 one-stop approval process for affordable housing. This $42 million project offers 67 units catering to families, veterans, and the homeless, integrating services like job readiness programs and financial planning courses on-site. Its design features environmentally sustainable technologies, including solar water heating and drought-resistant landscaping, achieving LEED Gold certification​​.

Awesome and Affordable: Great Housing Now, Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, the “Awesome and Affordable: Great Housing Now” initiative showcases how innovative design paired with community-oriented development can create appealing and affordable urban housing. The initiative highlights projects that incorporate green spaces, communal areas, and local architectural charm. These projects not only meet the needs of diverse urban populations but also enhance the aesthetic and social fabric of their neighborhoods, providing a replicable model for other cities grappling with similar housing challenges​.

Across the globe, successful affordable housing projects are marked by their innovative approaches to design, community integration, and sustainability. From Brussels to Los Angeles, these case studies showcase the potential for affordable housing to not just provide shelter but to uplift communities, integrate sustainable practices, and enhance urban life. These projects demonstrate that with thoughtful planning and community-focused strategies, affordable housing can be both economically viable and socially enriching, setting a standard for future developments worldwide.

By examining these projects, it’s evident that successful affordable housing requires more than just building homes. It involves a holistic approach where architecture meets social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and community engagement to create spaces that are not only affordable but also livable and supportive of a higher quality of life. This is the future of urban development, where housing is seen not just as a physical space but as a dynamic component of community health and wellbeing.

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Aranya Low-cost Housing by B.V Doshi Low-cost urban housing

“They are not houses but homes where a happy community lives. That is what finally matters, ” says B.V Doshi, the shaping hand behind Aranya. Strong recognition of relationships between humans and the environment, the association of our lives and culture, sensitive approach towards society, its traditions, ways, and a conscious response towards the ecosystem are some key factors that made Doshi’s architecture instrumental in crafting the environment for people. 

With the coexistence of functionality and poetic element, his idea behind architecture remains self-evident and expressive of its intent. During 1970 and onward, the emerging need to house large numbers of people gave rise to various housing projects. Doshi designed Life Insurance Corporation , Ahmedabad in 1973 and Aranya Low-Cost Housing , Indore in 1989, which was one of his best-known projects. This project was remarkably unique in terms of its approach, design philosophy, and the way it played a role in the life of users.

Social Context

Aranya Low-Cost Housing situated in Indore was commissioned by Indore Development Authority and co-funded by World Bank and India’s Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), for Economically weaker sections of society addressing the shortage of houses and shelter at that time. As the number of slums, illegal settlements, and scarcity of shelters increased, it became important for the government to tackle this issue in an affordable and well-served manner. 

There were various case studies done; the housing situation then was understood, where affordable housing was equal to a repetition of a series of modules, units that were a standard response. Aranya Housing spans 86 hectares consisting of six self-contained neighbourhoods. 

Doshi’s integrated approach for mixed-income groups was with an idea to get them together. The response came purely from the understanding of the fundamental needs of people and the fact that space and design eventually revolve around the user. The housing township spans across six sectors and accommodates over 6500 residences. Doshi decided to provide the families with a framework of things, where the plot consisted of provision for services, a toilet block, and a brick plinth to build over. 

Instead of a finished house, this framework allowed people to shape the space according to their fundamental needs and lifestyles. This idea also allowed the house to grow subjectively, influencing the connectivity, human and adaptability, private and public buffers, indoor-outdoor relationships, and flow of spaces.

Hierarchy and Connectivity

The street network has clear vehicular and pedestrian traffic segregation, drawing the vehicular road towards the peripheral main road and pedestrians or informal pathways. This affects the nature of pathways and streets that the houses share, making the heavy traffic inactive and instigating informal public activities and interactions. The entrances, buffer spaces between public and private, streets, space between two houses, the scale of these pathways concerning the built spaces allow ease to spaces and functionality. 

The community public spaces follow a hierarchy, with an even distribution of community sub-centres with active pedestrian movement. The main public space being connected with all secondary spaces maintains a link throughout the township. As the sector roads connect to a central spine, this spine is staggered at 2 points to reduce the traffic.  

Planning, Masses and Form

Every 10 clusters of houses shared a courtyard. The six sectors had their own green spaces and one larger public space for the whole township. The user was given the freedom to choose how much to build, the combinations to build. As every entrance, staircase, verandahs, buffer had variations, it gave a unique character to every house. 

Doshi had a kit of elements that included a staircase, Openings, railings, overhangs, verandahs that allowed families to adapt it according to their needs. He planned and constructed 80 sample homes for the families with variations in terms of size, spatial planning, mass, and movement. Houses ranging from one bedroom to bigger were available for people to choose from depending on the income group. The proximity of two houses helps shade the common courtyard shared in between. 

Construction and Materials

As the soil at the site was black cotton soil, Doshi used shallow concrete piles for footing. Every house was provided with a plinth, load-bearing masonry walls, and concrete slabs. This also reduced the overall construction cost. The longer side of the house was oriented in the north-south axis, residing the heat exposure. Owners were free to choose the decorations, material, and colour palette for the house.

Doshi’s vision to have a unified sense of belonging by including the user in the design process was an effective and practical approach towards the housing. The growth of houses and the evolution of spaces were purely out of need and the lifestyle of families. Design parameters like hierarchy, movement, scale were instrumental in the Master Plan. Every neighbourhood is connected through smaller public spaces and informal pathways. 

This framework provides the space for users to grow and move organically. This project stands to be one of the exceptional attempts towards its purpose. This approach not only maximized the functionality and usage of space but also uplifted the weaker class.

“Design is nothing but a humble understanding of materials, an instinct for solutions and respect for nature.”

— B.V Doshi

Doshi, B. (2019).  Balkrishna Doshi: Architecture for the People . Thames & Hudson .

Manon Mollard (2019).  Revisit: Aranya low-cost housing, Indore, Balkrishna Doshi

. [online]. (2019). Available at: https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/revisit-aranya-low-cost-housing-indore-balkrishna-doshi 

Madhuli is an architect, who believes in the power of influences from places, people, and experiences. Exploring perspectives in architecture and her purpose as an Architect, she is also an art enthusiast with a love for travel and photography.

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Home > News and Thought Leadership > Sustainable and Affordable Housing Report

Sustainable and Affordable Housing Report

It is estimated that around 80% of cities worldwide do not have affordable housing options for the majority of their population (1). the world needs to provide two billion homes over the next 75 years — meaning 96,000 new affordable homes need to be built every day (2). the global housing crisis, interlinked with the dual crises of unprecedented climate change and biodiversity loss, is one of the greatest social challenges we are facing today. housing infrastructure can continue to exacerbate problems or can be part of the solution. the global building and construction industry needs a monumental shift. the ‘sustainable and affordable housing’ report challenges the widespread perception that affordable and sustainable housing is not a mass market solution. many of the solutions to the global housing crisis already exist. the case study content from five regions highlights cutting-edge built environment projects, making sustainable and affordable housing a reality for all — from 3d printed homes in kenya, community engagement and collaborative financing models in nepal, to disaster-resilience retrofits in the philippines.  through this publication, worldgbc champions a unified vision for sustainable, affordable housing and spotlights best practice worldwide to demonstrate opportunities for success that could be scaled for greater impact. an analysis of case study data derives key calls to action for policy makers, the finance community, community approaches, and the design and construction industry. view the ipaper version of the report download the pdf version of the report references: european parliament, ‘access to decent and affordable housing for all’ (2020) wef, ‘the world needs to build 2 billion new homes over the next 80 years’ (2018) five key principles, co-developed by an international taskforce of green building councils and affordable housing experts, guide the analysis of best practice solutions across the globe, these are:, 1. habitability and comfort.

• Health and comfort: Enhance indoor environmental quality to boost occupants’ mental and physical wellbeing and reduce factors that can lead to viral transmission and ill health, by considering all relevant health and comfort determinants, including air, light, water, sanitation, acoustic, thermal, and visual comfort*.
• Outdoor environment: Enhance outdoor environmental quality, including access to nature and promote walkability*.
• Dignity: Enhance dignity, privacy, and security, providing enough space to prevent overcrowding.
• Rights: Protect against evictions, destruction, and demolition, with appropriate entitlements of land and property.
• Lifestyle: Encourage healthy occupant behaviour and lifestyle choices*.

Further Resources:

* Please see WorldGBC’s Health & Wellbeing Framework for more information on health, equity, and resilience strategies in the built environment

** Please see WorldGBC’s Resilience in the Built Environment Guide for more information about climate resilience and adaptation in the built environment

– IHRB’s Dignity by Design Framework for more information on each stage of the built environment lifecycle, aiming to minimise risks to people and maximise social outcomes.

– ICLEI’s Circular City Actions Framework for more information on a range of strategies and actions available to work towards circular development at the local level.

2. Community and Connectivity

• Inclusive design: Prioritise inclusion of citizens in the planning and design stages of community or project development to avoid issues of social unrest or displacement.
• Access to transport and services: Incorporate accessible transport systems into community or masterplan, to allow accessibility to employment, services, and amenities such as shops, schools, healthcare facilities and public areas.
• Culture and community: Foster inclusion and social equity, by enhancing equality, inclusivity, diversity, non-discriminatory, and culturally relevant environments that foster a sense of belonging.

3. Resilience and Adaptation to a Changing Climate

• Adaptability: Ensure housing is adaptable, durable, and easy to maintain through its lifecycle, to facilitate ease of retrofit and reuse**.
• Nature-based solutions: Enhance natural capital, maintaining and preserving ecological processes to support whole life impact on ecological health, prioritise the regeneration of ecosystem services, and enhance bioclimatic resilience.
• Safety: Ensure structural safety is met and designed to withstand climate change scenarios to offer long-standing usability.
• Hazard and disaster resilience: Consider extreme temperature change and weather conditions such as floods, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, storms, and high winds**.

4. Economic Accessibility

• Net zero whole life emissions: Target whole life carbon emission reduction, working towards net zero operational and embodied carbon levels at building and community scales.
• Energy transition and efficiency: Support the energy transition away from fossil fuels and towards electrification through the generation and use of clean and renewables-powered electricity, demonstrating energy reduction through efficiency measures to reduce emissions and operational energy use and costs.
• Water: Reduce water footprint of materials and processes and ensure water efficiency in operation.
• Waste and materials: Support recycling and upcycling of materials through circular design principles.

5. Resource Efficiency and Circularity

• Purchase and leasing price: Support affordable purchase, upfront rental costs, with options to secure housing beyond direct payment. 
• In-use costs: ensure accessible and affordable operation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement costs.
• Economic security: Ensure financial security and a suitable housing option for any income level, while supporting the progression of a growing household to a successively higher quality of living, habitat, and infrastructure.
• Living costs: Ensure access to affordable utilities and services to increase occupants’ discretionary income.
• Development costs: Source locally and utilise local industries to reduce building costs and support economic development.

Regional Snapshot

The ‘Sustainable and Affordable Housing’ report spotlights case studies from around the world which demonstrate innovative examples of sustainable and affordable housing. These case studies are showcased by region:

Africa Regional Snapshot

Challenges facing the housing sector

Africa is the most rural region in the world, yet has incredible diversity across the continent, with centres of wealth and urbanisation. The continent is also at the frontline of climate change impacts, such as droughts and expansion of desertification.

Driving the uptake of sustainable and affordable housing 

In the last decade, there is a growing body of evidence of sustainable projects, policies and plans being implemented across the built environment in Africa.

Americas Regional Snapshot

The Americas region is the second most disaster prone region in the world, with 152 million people affected by over 1,200 natural disasters from the years 2000-2019; including floods, storms, droughts, wildfire, and extreme temperatures ( 41) .

A range of innovation and traditional financing, policy and development models are being utilised across the continent to drive affordable, sustainable housing across the Americas.

References:

41. OCHA, ‘Natural Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2000- 2019’ (2020)

Asia Pacific Regional Snapshot

The continent of Asia is experiencing massive demographic changes, with the growing and urbanising populations of Asia’s developing nations presenting an urgent demand for sustainable and affordable housing. Across the entire continent, the physical impacts and risk of climate change have already been realised ( 62) .

Increasing the supply of sustainable and affordable housing has been a national priority for many governments in the Asia Pacific region, with a consistent message that countries need to build more, and an increase in private investors supporting local development.

62. UN Habitat, ‘pro-poor urban climate resilience in Asia and the pacific’ (2014)

Europe Regional Snapshot

The European region has the highest GDP per capita of any continent 80 , and yet only represents less than 10% of the world’s total population. However, most European countries are projected to experience a 20% decline in population by 2050 ( 81) .

There are many sophisticated examples of affordable and sustainable housing in Europe being driven through a range of channels, from policy to private funding. Concern about physical climate risk is recognised as a key driver for greater investment in the residential sector, alongside EU level policy driving retrofits as part of the ‘Green Deal’; the regional action plan for moving to a clean, circular economy while restoring biodiversity, cutting pollution, and reaching climate neutrality by 2050 ( 91) .

81. Eurostat, ‘Population projected to decline in two-thirds of EU regions’ (2021)

91. WorldGBC, ‘Building Life’ (2022)

Middle East and North Africa Regional Snapshot

The Middle East is one of the most urbanised regions in the world, with over 56% of inhabitants living in cities. As average inhabitants grow younger and refugee populations increase, this is set to rise to 68% of total inhabitants, approximately 646 million people, living in cities by 2050. The housing demand will result in 70% of land use in most cities comprising housing ( 98) .

Varied approaches to sustainable, affordable housing can be observed, with greater or lesser degrees of government intervention in this area. The MENA region has strived to become more environmentally friendly, with record-breaking developments and a shift towards more sustainable practices in design and construction.

98. ESCWA, ‘Social Housing in the Arab Region: An Overview of Policies for Low- Income Households’ Access to Adequate Housing’ (2017)

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Affordable Housing Essentials: How to Design, Develop, & Finance Properties Growing Cities Need

This immersion into what is needed to create affordable housing will equip you with the tools to create properties, programs, and policies that address this growing challenge.

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What you'll learn.

Learn durable and globally applicable principles, practices, and approaches to change that apply to any urban affordable housing challenge.

For US practitioners, get a whole new lens through which to evaluate the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), workforce, mixed-income, and hybrid tenure models such as rent-to-own or shared appreciation.

Discover how to adapt principles, practices, and approaches to individual contexts.

Draw lessons from dozens of countries around the world, developed and emerging.

Use a real-life, multi-part case study that demonstrates the universal aspects of affordable housing and the crucial details of its local application.

Master the universal fundamentals of affordable housing, and understand how they can be adapted by place, policy, and laws – enabling participants to analyze the housing models needed in their changing cities

Course description

Not only is affordable housing a challenge to deliver around the world, but it is also an escalating challenge in the United States.  All growing economies or urbanizing metropolitan areas create increased effective demand for housing, pushing up prices and rents.  This makes shortages of affordable housing a chronic problem that can be addressed only by continuous policy and program innovation. 

Meanwhile, supply restrictions such as NIMBY zoning and the complexities of urban development have opened new fissures revealing the need for workforce housing, campus-based housing, and housing plus care services.  These new pressures overtax existing resources, whether these are infrastructure, buildable land, current zoning, or available subsidies.  

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Tackling the world’s affordable housing challenge

Decent, affordable housing is fundamental to the health and well-being of people and to the smooth functioning of economies. Yet around the world, in developing and advanced economies alike, cities are struggling to meet that need. If current trends in urbanization and income growth persist, by 2025 the number of urban households that live in substandard housing—or are so financially stretched by housing costs that they forego other essentials, such as healthcare—could grow to 440 million, from 330 million. This could mean that the global affordable housing gap would affect one in three urban dwellers, about 1.6 billion people.

A new McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, A blueprint for addressing the global affordable housing challenge , defines the affordability gap as the difference between the cost of an acceptable standard housing unit (which varies by location) and what households can afford to pay using no more than 30 percent of income. The analysis draws on MGI’s Cityscope database of 2,400 metropolitan areas, as well as case studies from around the world. It finds that the affordable housing gap now stands at $650 billion a year and that the problem will only grow as urban populations expand: current trends suggest that there could be 106 million more low-income urban households by 2025, for example. To replace today’s inadequate housing and build the additional units needed by 2025 would require $9 trillion to $11 trillion in construction spending alone. With land, the total cost could be $16 trillion. Of this, we estimate that $1 trillion to $3 trillion may have to come from public funding.

However, four approaches used in concert could reduce the cost of affordable housing by 20 to 50 percent and substantially narrow the affordable housing gap by 2025. These largely market-oriented solutions—lowering the cost of land, construction, operations and maintenance, and financing—could make housing affordable for households earning 50 to 80 percent of median income.

Four approaches can narrow the housing-affordability gap by 20 to 50 percent.

• Unlocking land supply. Since land is usually the largest real-estate expense, securing it at appropriate locations can be the most effective way to reduce costs. In even the largest global cities, many parcels of land remain unoccupied or underused. Some of them may belong to government and could be released for development or sold to buy land for affordable housing. Private land can be brought forward for development through incentives such as density bonuses—increasing the permitted floor space on a plot of land and, therefore, its value; in return, the developer must provide land for affordable units.
• Reducing construction costs. While manufacturing and other industries have raised productivity steadily in the past few decades, in construction it has remained flat or gone down in many countries. Likewise, in many places residential housing is still built in the same way it was 50 years ago. Project costs could be reduced by about 30 percent and completion schedules shortened by about 40 percent if developers make use of value engineering (standardizing design) and industrial approaches, such as assembling buildings from prefabricated components manufactured off-site. Efficient procurement methods and other process improvements would help, as well. 1 1. For more on new construction techniques, see David Xu, “ How to build a skyscraper in two weeks ,” May 2014.
• Improved operations and maintenance. Twenty to 30 percent of the cost of housing is operations and maintenance. Energy-efficiency retrofits, such as insulation and new windows, can cut these costs. Maintenance expenses can be reduced by helping owners find qualified suppliers (through registration and licensing) and by consolidated purchasing. For example, buying consortia in the United Kingdom have saved 15 to 30 percent on some maintenance items for social housing.
• Lowering financing costs for buyers and developers. Improvements in underwriting would help banks safely make more housing loans to lower-income borrowers. Contractual savings programs can help such buyers accumulate down payments and therefore finance purchases with smaller and less risky loans. Such programs can also provide capital for low-interest mortgages to savers. Governments could help cut the financing costs of developers by making affordable housing projects less risky—for instance, by guaranteeing buyers or tenants for finished units.

The successful application of these approaches depends on creating an appropriate delivery platform for housing in each city. Policy makers, working with the private sector and local communities, need to set clear aspirations for housing throughout their cities. Critically, a minimum-standard housing unit must be defined in each of them. But an excessively ambitious minimum can discourage the construction of affordable homes and force more low-income households into informal housing. A better solution is to set standards that reflect rising aspirations—a housing “ladder” that can start with something very basic that might, for example, have communal kitchens and baths and serve as transitional housing for new arrivals.

Affordable housing could represent a significant opportunity for the global construction and housing-finance industries. Building homes for all the low-income households added in cities by 2025 could cost $2.3 trillion. That would represent a construction market of $200 billion to $250 billion in revenues annually, or about 10 percent of the global residential real-estate construction industry.

Lola Woetzel is a director of the McKinsey Global Institute, where Jan Mischke is a senior fellow; Sangeeth Ram is a principal in McKinsey’s Dubai office; Nicklas Garemo is a director in the Abu Dhabi office; and Shirish Sankhe is a director in the Mumbai office.

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Is Affordable Housing Good for the Neighborhood?

Research shows these buildings impact home prices and diversity.

September 15, 2015

Photo illustration showing low-income housing options in a neighborhood by Tricia Seibold. Photo by iStock/David Sucsy

In a lawsuit filed in 2008 and elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court this year, nonprofit Inclusive Communities Project sued the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, arguing it supported racial segregation by allocating too many housing credits to develop affordable housing in poorer, predominantly black neighborhoods. The high court sided with the nonprofit in June, returning the case to the lower court.

But new research shows that the housing department may have been on to something. A study by Stanford GSB professors Rebecca Diamond and Tim McQuade shows that affordable housing development could be an effective policy to help revitalize and integrate low-income areas, Diamond says.

The two studied affordable housing projects’ impact on the surrounding neighborhoods over a 10-year span, and found that new projects in poorer neighborhoods increased surrounding home prices and reduced crime, while new projects in wealthier neighborhoods drove down home prices and decreased racial diversity.

“Perhaps counterintuitively, if you build in high-minority areas, it will actually attract higher-income homebuyers as well as non-minority homebuyers to the area,” McQuade says. “It can actually achieve to some extent a goal of integration.”

The Research

Analyzing the effects of affordable housing holds merit, considering what Americans spend on these programs. Each year, U.S. federal, state, and local governments drop more than $97 billion on housing assistance. One such program, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (or LIHTC) provides developer incentives to build affordable housing. Launched in 1986, the program has funded about a fifth of multifamily developments. Diamond and McQuade analyzed the impact these LIHTC projects had on surrounding areas by pulling data on housing transactions, as well as homebuyer race and income information. They were able to study about 16 million transactions from 15 states around 7,098 LIHTC sites.

Quote The study revealed that an affordable housing project in a low-income region was worth about $116 million to the immediate surrounding neighborhood.

In low-income neighborhoods, where median incomes fell below $26,000, the researchers saw home values appreciate 6.5% within a tenth of a mile of an LIHTC project. Crime rates also fell, and more non-minorities moved into the area, increasing diversity. In higher-income neighborhoods, those with median incomes above $54,000, housing prices declined approximately 2.5% within a tenth of a mile of a project, and segregation increased (the researchers noticed no crime impact).

Why the difference? In many cases, a new building in a poorer neighborhood created a “sort of revitalization effect,” Diamond says. “These areas don’t tend to have a lot of investment in them. It makes the neighborhood appear more desirable.” That, in turn, drew more homebuyers, particularly non-minorities.

On the flip side, wealthier neighborhoods didn’t see affordable housing as an attractive amenity. And that impact rippled through the area years after construction started.

“In the high-income areas, you saw a strong housing price drop very locally, and then it radiated outward over time,” McQuade says. The price effects remain even after 10 years, Diamond adds.

Furthermore, by aggregating the housing price changes in transactions following a new development, Diamond and McQuade were able to determine how much a project was worth to the surrounding neighborhood — in other words, how much more people were willing to pay to live close to the site, or conversely, how much they’d be willing to lose to move away from it. Their analysis revealed that an LIHTC project in a low-income region was worth about $116 million to the immediate surrounding neighborhood. In higher-income areas, the new building led to a loss of approximately $17 million.

The researchers say that examining neighborhood impact is only one way to analyze affordable housing. Another method would consider personal impact to tenants. For example, another study found moving children from poor neighborhoods to higher-income ones increases their future earnings.

“In terms of the actual people who live in these buildings, it could be better to move them to better neighborhoods,” McQuade says. “What we’re saying is that the government needs to think seriously about the tradeoff of how much we are benefiting the tenants of affordable housing versus what the effects are on the local neighborhood.”

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Who Wants Affordable Housing in their Backyard? An Equilibrium Analysis of Low Income Property Development Rebecca Diamond Timothy James McQuade

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Norman Foster and his High-tech Architecture

Diebedo francis kere- first african to win pritzker architecture prize, thomas heatherwick – fascinating architect, oscar niemeyer- hero of the modern architecture, chichu art museum: portrayal of japanese brutalism, biomimicry architecture: eastgate centre – harare, zimbabwe, vastu direction for home, top 10 fabulous wooden structures in the world, 10 upcoming futuristic projects in the world: a glimpse into architecture…, architecture of indian cities: top 10 cities for architects., are the skins of larger buildings prefabricated, what is 3d printing technology how it is used in architecture, the best designing software that every architect must use, best laptop for architecture students in 2021, 5 representations of technology in the world of architecture, unveiling the essence of architecture: a comprehensive exploration, architecture juries – 10 things to remember before them, top 20 architecture colleges in the world, top 20 architecture colleges in india, top 20 architecture colleges in canada, udaan: low-cost housing project by sameep padora and associates.

Udaan is a low-cost mass housing project in Mumbai Sameep Padora for the families that serve the privileged classes of the city. A home for under wraps!

Considering the intact conditions of the city, this project is exemplifying new lessons of Architecture for affordable low-cost housing. However, in metropolises, 50-60 % of the population work for daily wages and find it difficult to buy their own house. Instead of informal settlements, Low-cost urban housing projects can bring assets to the city.

Concept of Udaan: Low-cost Housing project

Structure of udaan: low-cost housing project, design flexibility.

Mumbai is one of the densest metropolises in the world. Escalating land prices in Mumbai is forcing out the secondary working class to move out of their age-old houses and settle in remote areas far from their workplaces. Evaluating this issue Udaan was proposed at Karjat near Bhivpuri station. This is on the Central railway route between Neral and Karjat. It is also connected to NH4. And this has road links to both Panvel/Navi Mumbai and Badlapur/Thane.

• Total BUA proposed: 19080 sq.mt
• Total Units proposed (assuming 300 sq.ft): 522
• 1st Phase : 255
• 2nd Phase 2: 267

Housing is addressing people of the service sector. All possible ways use to keep the social fabric intact. However, design inculcates local context and traditional concepts of low-cost housing. Problem was to cater work-life conditions of people. So the site was so selected, which connects well to all workplaces. Use of new technology for low cost and rapid construction. FSI of this area is 1.2. The project explores the flexibility of modules and units that suit the typology and category of people. At the same time, rather than consolidating the 10% amenity into the  de-facto  club house disconnected from daily use, the design integrated it as a series of dispersed common social programs throughout the building.

Also, read related article: Cargotecture: The Architecture of Shipping containers

The Architect of this low-cost housing is Ar. Sameep Padora, a Mumbai-based Architect. However, his practice is widely regarded for its research-oriented projects that take a deep dive into not just the context. But also the socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics of the projects.

Standard developers’ practice is to separate clusters based on typology. Also, upstanding the philosophy Architect tried to club together all types of units in the same building, allowing a mix of user groups and creating a richer social fabric.

Based on the requirements of each family four types of units were designed.

• Mezzanine Unit
• Mixed Unit.

Also, read related articles: LIC Housing, Ahmedabad by BV Doshi

All units are in the same grid 3.6×5.9 & 3.6 x 8.9. Which is generated by the Wet Pod requirements Design is modular. In addition, the Wet Pods act as structural, precast, loadbearing modules between which the slabs spanned and eliminate the need for extra columns and beams. Since the module is pre-fabricated and simply put into place on-site. However, the time taken for construction is much less than a conventional RCC framed one both in terms of time and labor involved. In addition, through this method, it became possible to build up to G+4 in 21 days as opposed to casting one slab in 21 days using conventional RCC frame construction.

The use of modular construction techniques made it possible to keep design flexible all units in a grid of 3.6m can merge with adjacent in case of an increase in family size or typology. Also, mixed-used units are on the ground floor to increase the economy. A modular, but non-repetitive scheme can combine to form permutations suiting the fluid requirements of users, with a minimum area of 300sq.ft as mandated.

Also, Read: Kanchanjunga Apartments by Charles Correa: A climate-based

However, the use of corridors, courtyards, and staggering of all types of units inspired by the Chawl Architecture of traditional Mumbai. However, Mumbai has a humid climate, the most simple way to provide comfort conditions is to ensure cross ventilation. The design also addresses this by using the staggered corridors to have cross-ventilation through each unit and vertically ventilate the community areas by staggering the corridors and generating a stack effect cooling through the sloping roof over the circulation zone, completely resembling chawls!

The approach explores the flexibility available in the clever repetition of a module. The project, being precast pods, can execute with speed and allows for a number of units that can configure to suit individual requirements of space for individual families over time. Sameep Padora and Associates

Also, Read: Aranya Low-cost Housing by BV Doshi

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Under Bridge: Winners of Buildner's 17th Affordable Housing Competition Announced

• Published on August 30, 2024

Buildner has revealed the results of its Under Bridge Affordable Housing Challenge , the 17th version of its Affordable Housing competition series , which focused on proposing design solutions to address housing challenges in cities around the world. This competition aimed to transform neglected areas under bridges, turning idle or empty spaces in sprawling cities into vibrant and thriving communities.

Participants were invited to select any "under the bridges" site globally, considering factors such as accessibility, available amenities, and how the proposed solution would integrate with the existing community or city. Designs needed to demonstrate adaptability, ensuring they could meet diverse needs while remaining cost-effective and sustainable. Buildner and its jury sought practical, scalable, and eco-friendly designs to revolutionize these overlooked spaces. The competition encouraged creative thinking and innovative housing solutions that challenge conventional approaches.

Buildner worked with an international jury panel to evaluate the received entries:

• Cas Esbach , Project Leader and Architect at MVRDV in Rotterdam
• Philippe Fouche , Director and Architect at South Africa-based SAOTA
• Avi Friedman , Professor of Architecture at McGill University and President of Avi Friedman Consultants, Inc.
• Samista Jugwanth , Associate and Shareholder at Zutari
• Luise Marter , Collaborator at KWY Studio in Lisbon
• Blake T. Smith , Associate and Senior Designer at BIG in New York
• Nicolas Sterling , Co-Founder and Director of Sterling Presser Architects and Engineers in Berlin
• Elke Sterling-Presser , Co-Founder and Director of Sterling Presser Architects and Engineers in Berlin
• Renyi Zhang , Senior Architect and Urban Designer at Perkins&Will
• Andreas Tjeldflaat , Founder of Framlab in New York and Bergen, Norway

Overlooked Urban Spaces

The spaces beneath urban bridges are often overlooked—shadowed, unused pockets within the cityscape. Traditionally, these areas have been relegated to practical uses like parking or storage, with little consideration for their potential as active parts of the urban environment. However, as cities grapple with increasing demands for housing and public space, these under-bridge areas are attracting new attention from architects and urban planners.

Design Opportunities

Rather than viewing these spaces as mere byproducts of infrastructure, some designers see an opportunity to repurpose them in ways that could benefit surrounding communities. The idea is to transform these underutilized zones into functional areas that provide affordable housing , public amenities, or green spaces. With careful planning and innovative design, these spaces could be integrated into the urban fabric, offering much-needed housing in central locations and creating new community hubs.

Architects are exploring ways to use the structural support of bridges to create modular housing units that fit neatly beneath the spans. Often located close to transit lines and central locations, these spaces offer a unique opportunity to develop affordable housing without consuming additional land. Beyond housing, there’s potential for pedestrian pathways, public art installations, and green spaces that could help connect neighborhoods and foster more cohesive urban environments.

Reimagining these spaces is not without challenges, but it presents a chance to rethink how cities use their limited space. As urban centers continue to grow, making use of every available inch—including the areas beneath bridges—could be key to creating more sustainable, livable cities. The challenge lies in finding ways to maximize benefits for the communities involved.

First Prize Winner + Buildner Student Award

Project Title: New Raft

Authors: Yujun Cai from China and the National University of Singapore

The selected site is in Jiuzhou Bay, within the Pearl River Estuary—a crossroads with numerous shipping lanes and a harbor for the Tanka people. According to the authors, the new Hong Kong-Macau bridge has disrupted the natural environment of the Tanka community, who have fished and lived on the water here for centuries. The design aims to create a "bottom-up" maritime community by using three elemental units based on the module of a typical Tanka fishing raft. The layout is intended to preserve the physical structure of existing communities, while the negative space beneath the bridge is transformed into a cultural area.

Second Prize Winner

Project Title: The HiveWay

Authors: Stephanie Julie Maignan, Qianhui Wang, Ogulnabat Jumayeva, Brian Tien, from B+H Architects & the Surbana Jurong Architecture & Design Council of Excellence, Canada

The Gardiner Expressway, once a symbol of 1960s futuristic urban planning, now separates downtown Toronto from Lake Ontario, creating polluted and unused spaces beneath it. As Toronto's population approaches 7 million, the demand for affordable housing in the downtown core is immense. The HiveWay proposes to transform a 2 km stretch of the Gardiner—from Lower Jarvis Street to east of the Don Valley Parkway—into vibrant, affordable housing. By utilizing the planned rerouting of this segment, the vision integrates housing directly with the infrastructure. Precast concrete box girders will be used for the new stretches, enabling faster, modular construction. The concept envisions housing cars within the girders' voids, leaving space above and below for residential units, mixed-use amenities, and green spaces. Hexagonal modules will accommodate soundproof, insulated housing units, while ground and intermediate levels will provide community services, retail, and recreational areas. The HiveWay aims to convert a relic of outdated urban planning into a sustainable, integrated development, revitalizing Toronto's urban landscape.

Third Prize Winner

Project Title: [0,0,-1] XYZ: Manhattan U-Housing

Authors: Hoyeon La, Seo Junhyeong , Jung Hyun Ji , Seonghyun Jeong from South Korea and Yeungnam University

XYZ: Manhattan U-Housing reimagines urban expansion by utilizing the space beneath the Manhattan Bridge. The bridge, supplied with water from the East River, powers a piezoelectric generator through traffic. Light ducts connect streetlights to residential areas, which include libraries, cafes, and shelters. This project addresses urban density and social stratification by creating U-shaped steel-frame units that integrate with the bridge, offering noise and vibration isolation. Each unit operates independently, avoiding interference with neighbors, and features manual elevators powered by human strength, which minimizes energy consumption while ensuring vertical mobility.

Sustainability Prize Winner

Project Title: Living Under a Common Roof  - Reinterpreted tube houses

Authors: Thu Nga Nadine Do from Austria and TU Wien

Clay, a key material in traditional Vietnamese architecture, is central to the tube houses featured in "Living Under a Common Roof." Locally sourced clay and steel are used to minimize transport distances. Positioned beneath the bridge, the houses are shielded from extreme weather. A serving wall and double facade ensure cross-ventilation and natural cooling. The design prioritizes adaptability, affordability, and sustainability, dynamically responding to residents' needs with adjustable private and common spaces. Adaptable circulation connects vertical private rooms, and financial compensation is provided for extended private areas. This evolving design addresses Vietnam's housing crisis by activating underutilized spaces, such as the 750-meter-long Phu My Bridge. The traditional tube house, which is narrow yet long, has been adapted to create more vertical living space. The design revives communal and climate benefits, offering affordable housing near industrial zones. By emphasizing transition zones between indoor/outdoor and private/shared spaces, each unit includes two tube houses and shared vertical circulation. Public areas like playgrounds, shops, and green spaces are integrated to foster community and sustainability.

Highlighted Submissions

Project Title: Re-Bridge

Authors: Jiming Bai, Yuejun Han, Yinong Ge and Yifan Zhang, from the USA

Demographia’s 2023 survey highlights critical housing affordability issues in 81 global cities. Many of these cities feature underutilized spaces beneath elevated transportation systems, presenting a unique opportunity to create affordable housing while reconnecting divided communities. The Re-Bridge project aims to repurpose these under-bridge areas despite challenges such as limited natural light, noise, and air quality. Design solutions include elevating residential units, incorporating vertical greenery, and using perforated panels to enhance privacy and light. Public spaces and retail at ground level will further improve the urban environment. A prime candidate for this initiative is the under-bridge space near Brightline Miami Station, currently used for parking, which could be transformed to revitalize and reconnect downtown Miami.

Project Title: UNDERLINE

Authors: Jiansong Yuan and Xiaotong Ni from the USA

The UNDERLINE housing project reimagines urban living by transforming underutilized spaces beneath bridges into vibrant community hubs. The design integrates existing bridge structures with modern elements, creating a sustainable and welcoming environment for residents and the surrounding neighborhood. Chicago, with its numerous bridges and underused spaces, is an ideal location for UNDERLINE. The city’s extensive infrastructure presents a unique opportunity to address the pressing need for affordable housing . By reclaiming these neglected areas, UNDERLINE not only revitalizes urban landscapes but also fosters community engagement and economic development in underserved neighborhoods.

Project Title: Underbridge Homes

Authors: Anqi Wang, Hao Zhou, Yue Liang, Ruijing Sun from the USA

New York City, with its blend of historic architecture and modern technology, faces growing challenges due to its dense population and limited land availability. Many abandoned railways and spaces beneath bridges present a unique opportunity to repurpose these areas for affordable housing . This project aims to transform underutilized bridge spaces into modular homes for low-income residents, revitalizing neighborhoods and enhancing community connections. The proposed modular units—ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments—are designed to fit seamlessly beneath bridges, using minimal space while addressing noise and safety concerns. These units will be connected by corridors and shared public spaces, including essential amenities such as fitness centers, laundry rooms, and plazas. The bridge deck above will remain part of the transportation network and feature innovative landscaping. Drawing inspiration from the arch structures of the bridges, the design integrates harmoniously with the existing framework, creating a dynamic and sustainable urban living environment.

Project Title: Living Synthesis

Authors: Yangtong Zhao, USA

Living-Synthesis aims to create adaptable, affordable housing beneath New York City's bridges, transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant, permanent communities. Unlike typical affordable housing projects, this initiative focuses on long-term livability rather than merely minimizing costs. Using the Manhattan Bridge as a prototype, Living-Synthesis envisions a hyper-dense, interconnected community spread across multiple bridge sites. The project features customizable, modular residential units that residents can expand based on their needs, along with public spaces, vertical farms, and other amenities. These adaptable elements foster a self-sustaining environment that addresses housing affordability while promoting community engagement. By integrating innovative solutions into existing infrastructure, Living-Synthesis not only provides permanent housing but also revitalizes urban spaces and enhances the quality of life for New Yorkers.

Buildner's competitions place a strong emphasis on housing and compact living in response to the climate and economic crises facing cities worldwide. Current ongoing events include the MICROHOME competition, which offers a €100,000 prize fund for innovative ideas related to small-scale living. Another event, the Denver Single Stair Housing Challenge —the 18th competition in Buildner's Affordable Housing Challenge series—aims to address the housing crisis in Colorado, USA. This challenge invites architects, designers, and urban planners from around the globe to reimagine the potential of Point Access Block housing, or single-stair housing, in the U.S. Participants are tasked with designing mid-rise buildings, up to six stories high, on underutilized lots in Denver.

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About the Syringa Project

Dr. Leontina Hormel is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Idaho, who has conducted community research for over two decades. This website brings together materials and discussions about affordable housing community development in the city of Moscow, the state of Idaho, across the United States, and elsewhere globally. The roots of this particular community development project site were established in Hormel's community action project with Syringa Mobile Home Park residents. From 2015 through 2018 she worked with and documented Syringa residents' experiences with water contamination and their efforts to improve their safety and living conditions in their community. Unfortunately, despite efforts to save their homes, residents were forced to relocate from Syringa when the park closed June 5, 2018. Syringa was constructed in the 1960s just three miles outside of Moscow, Idaho in Latah County. The park closed after several years of the park owner's insufficient in the water and wastewater disposal systems. The closure of the park brought on the mass-eviction of several working-class people and families. The case of Syringa helps highlight the need for affordable housing in the state of Idaho and across the nation. This website was created originally by Denessy Rodriguez, who was a 2018 undergraduate fellow of the University of Idaho Center for Digital Inquiry and Learning program. CDIL web developer, Olivia Wikle, assisted Denessy in developing these pages.

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Innovative Financing Models to Tackle the Affordable Housing Shortage

The recent Supreme Court ruling in Johnson v. Grants Pass marks a troubling shift in how the U.S. addresses homelessness—by criminalizing unhoused individuals for sleeping in public spaces, rather than addressing the systemic issues at play, such as the lack of available shelters. As cities grapple with the ruling, the need for innovative and sustainable housing solutions has never been more urgent.

The Supreme Court’s decision fails to account for the root causes of homelessness. In fact, criminalization has proven to be an ineffective approach that often prolongs homelessness. Fines and arrest records make it even more difficult for people to secure and maintain stable housing and work. The decision is already having significant impacts, as seen in California, where the Governor has directed state agencies to remove homeless encampments from state land.

The ruling diverts much-needed attention from sustainable solutions and could have devastating consequences for people experiencing homelessness across the United States. Rather than responding to the housing crisis with punitive measures, there is an urgent need to provide comprehensive support services and advance affordable housing solutions.

Earlier this year, Dalberg worked with the Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and Merritt Community Capital Corporation to explore innovative financing and social impact investing models aimed at scaling the development of affordable and supportive housing in California. This work focused on the state’s severe shortage of affordable housing—currently 1.4M affordable rental homes short—and the inadequacies of the existing financing system, including the overburdened Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.

Through this work, Dalberg identified five innovative financing models that not only address California’s severe housing shortage but also offer a scalable alternative to criminalizing homelessness:

• Debt-focused funds provide lower-cost construction and permanent debt to affordable housing developers, targeting non-LIHTC projects. These funds attract commercial capital through bond markets and private placements, making them suitable for (often for-profit) developers with access to non-LIHTC equity financing.
• Equity-focused funds provide affordable equity financing to develop affordable housing on a shortened timeline, reducing the need for developers to supply large equity pools. These funds enable nonprofit developers to access equity financing; however, they face challenges in delivering returns and sustainability, especially in models focused on construction.
• Bridge/catalytic funds provide flexible, lower-cost capital at specific stages of development, such as predevelopment, where securing capital is most challenging, and the risk of project failure is highest.
• Funds focused on construction/service innovation provide evidence on new methods, such as shared housing or permanent supportive services, that commercial capital is cautious about investing in. These funds attract smaller capital to establish a proof-of-concept, with the goal of scaling through commercial investment later.
• Social impact bonds secure upfront capital from impact investors, with the return of principal and interest contingent on actual outcomes relevant to housing. These bonds typically fund support services and programmatic operations, aiming to innovate new service delivery models or bridge funding gaps to demonstrate proof-of-concept, rather than scaling broadly.

As part of this work, we studied the Community Solutions Large Cities Housing Fund , which secured $135 million and closed in July. This social impact private equity fund aims to acquire over 2,500 housing units, with half designated for individuals exiting homelessness and half for workforce affordable housing. The private capital model enables faster, more cost-effective development of affordable housing, transforming cities’ approaches to reducing homelessness and providing a viable alternative to punitive measures.

As the U.S. contends with the implications of the Johnson v. Grants Pass ruling, the need for sustainable, innovative housing solutions becomes increasingly clear. By embracing new financing models and prioritizing affordable housing development, we can shift the narrative from criminalization to creating stable, supportive environments, fostering lasting change for communities experiencing homelessness across the nation.

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Matthew Wieber

Lancaster, PA, US

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Housing Case Study: Narkomfin Apartments

     The project consisted of a case study to be done on a housing project. From the case study, I determined the housing typology, programmatic elements, circulation and unit adjacency and layout, by recreating plans, sections and axonometric drawings, and a sectional model. The purpose of the project was to better understand housing typology and unit adjacency within a housing project and determine the pros and cons of the project and apply it to our own housing design.

    The project I chose was the Narkomfin Apartments, located in Moscow, Russia, designed by Moses Ginzburg and Ignaty Milinis during the Constructivist Movement in Russia while they were under control by the USSR.

Housing Typology:

-Slab Building, Single Orientation Units, Single Loaded Corridors every third floor.

Description:

     The Narkomfin Apartments were built during the Constructivist movement in Russia under the control of the USSR. The project pushed a progressive change in housing, moving from family housing to collective communal housing. This avant-garde type of architecture wanted to promote a socialist way a living, by emphasizing people to occupy public places rather than being withheld to their individual households. The intent of the design was to reduce the size of an individual apartment unit and promote a communal style of living.

    The model unit was separated vertically, where the bedrooms were located in the upper portion and the living and kitchen area located in the lower portion. The kitchen space within each apartment was minimal to insure the use of the communal facilities. The apartment complex consists of two different types of living spaces, “type K” and “type “F”. Each living space was designed for different styles of living. The first, type “K” were for families, allowing more room for a larger amount of people and ample space to cook. The second type, type “F” were better suited for single or smaller groups of people, who wanted to embrace a greater communal living style. This apartment unit contained smaller spaces to eat and cook.

    The building is a single orientation consisting of a single loaded corridor at every third floor, in order for natural light to enter the one side of the building. The apartments were desgined for the workers at the Russian Ministry of Finance. The building is a slab raised off the ground by pilotis, both the top and ground floors of the apartment were used for communal living, while the floors in between contained long corridors and two level apartments. The long interior corridor connected another block building to the apartment, which was also used for the public, containing kitchen, dining hall, and library. This project was not only a progressive step toward a new architecture, but it tried to shape the inhabitants manners and values by instilling a collective and communal behavior, in an attempt to alter social norms.

Status: School Project Location: Moscow, RU

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California settles lawsuit with Sacramento suburb over affordable housing project

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, speaks next to Attorney General Rob Bonta during a press conference regarding a settlement with the city of Elk Grove, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference regarding a settlement with the city of Elk Grove, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Sacramento suburb will have to build more affordable housing for residents at risk of homelessness under a settlement announced Wednesday with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, which comes more than a year after the state alleged in a lawsuit that Elk Grove illegally denied an affordable housing project.

The settlement means the city must identify a new site for affordable housing in an area with good access to economic, educational and health resources by July 1, 2025. The state will also have more oversight over the city’s approval of affordable housing over the next five years, including by receiving regular updates on the status of proposed projects.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, said it should not have taken so long for Elk Grove to agree to build more affordable housing.

“Our housing laws are not suggestions,” Bonta said at a news conference Wednesday. “You have to follow them. And if cities try to skirt them — try to avoid building the housing we need, try to illegally deny housing proposals, discriminate against communities, as Elk Grove did — the DOJ will hold them accountable.”

California’s lawsuit alleged the city broke state laws by denying a project to build 66 units in an area known as Old Town for residents who experienced homelessness. The denial violated laws aimed at streamlining housing projects and banning local governments from making discriminatory decisions, the state argued.

The legal battle escalated a growing conflict between the state and local government over how many housing projects cities should approve and how fast they should build them. Newsom in 2022 temporarily withheld funding from local governments who he said failed to adequately reduce homelessness. His administration has also sued the Southern California city of Huntington Beach , accusing it of ignoring state housing laws.

Elk Grove has to pay the state $150,000 for attorney and other legal fees under the agreement. Local officials said they were happy with the settlement and that it underscored the city’s efforts to build affordable housing.

“Elk Grove is proud of the role it has played as a leader in the development of affordable housing in the region,” the city said in a statement. “The City is hopeful that in the future the State will work more collaboratively with cities to partner in the development of affordable housing rather than use precious resources in the pursuit of unnecessary litigation.”

The Elk Grove Planning Commission denied the Old Town project — called the Oak Rose Apartments — in 2022, saying having residences on the first floor breached city standards for that part of town.

Elk Grove settled another lawsuit earlier this year over the project and approved an 81-unit affordable housing complex by the same developer in a different location.

The state needs to build 2.5 million homes by 2030 to keep up with demand, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Newsom said the legal battle in Elk Grove highlighted “the original sin” in California — its housing crisis.

“There’s no issue that impacts the state in more ways on more days than the issue of housing,” the Democrat said.

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna

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The contents of this article are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. Government.

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Utility mapping and land studies done consistently to keep cities safe, says Nga

Thursday, 05 Sep 2024

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Nga: PPR boost to reflect elevated housing quality

Public housing scheme rebranded to 'people's residency programme' or prr, says nga, hajiji tells local authorities to get tough against affordable government housing abusers.

JOHOR BARU: The recent sinkhole incident at Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Masjid India was an isolated case and does not mean the capital is unsafe to live in, says Nga Kor Ming.

The Housing and Local Government Minister said all of Malaysia's cities were safe places to visit and live.

"Every state and federal territory has done utility mapping and land structure studies.

"The work is carried out all the time, in phases.

“It is important to keep our cities safe. Do not make it seem like our country is not safe to live in because of an isolated case – that is not right," he said after a ministry programme here on Thursday (Sept 5).

ALSO READ: DBKL to work with geologists, infrastructure experts to prevent future sinkholes, says Dr Zaliha

Nga added that utility mapping and land structure studies in the capital also involved high-rise residences.

"Before getting permission to plan, the project must get a geoscience and technical report as this is a requirement before starting.

"Once the experts have confirmed it is safe, then we issue the development order. Our building structures are safe because we have high standards," he said.

On Wednesday (Sept 4), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would map the network of utilities under Kuala Lumpur and study its land structure.

ALSO READ: Spotting pitfalls beyond sinkholes

She also said DBKL would ensure all construction in the city must include a geotechnical report.

This follows the tragedy where Indian tourist G. Vijayalaksmi, 48, went missing after falling into an 8m-deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India on Aug 23.

A search operation involving security forces and local authorities was launched the same day.

It was officially called off after nine days following a thorough assessment by experts from the Fire and Rescue Department, the police, DBKL, Indah Water Konsortium and other agencies.

Tags / Keywords: Housing and Local Government Minister , Nga Kor Ming , Sinkhole , Jalan Masjid India , Kuala Lumpur , Isolated Incident , Utility Mapping , Land Structure Study , Geoscience Report , Technical Report

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