In Denver, where nearly 27,000 rental units are vacant amid a housing crisis, housing advocates propose a "ghost tax" to incentivize landlords to make these units available and fund affordable housing initiatives. The tax aims to combat the imbalance between empty homes and people in need of housing, but landlords fear it may drive rents up further in an already expensive market. As Colorado grapples with housing affordability issues, advocates believe taxing vacant units could be a crucial solution.
Popular stories on Brownstoner this week include a housing lottery in Fort Greene, a Fiske Terrace manse on the market, and more Brooklyn news. Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for Fort Greene Tower With $1,782 Units An affordable housing lottery has debuted for 331 apartments in a new 40-story tower on Fulton Street in Fort Greene. Known as the Rocklyn, the 1,102-unit development has taken the place of a low-rise building that housed a dollar store.
Four ballot measures aimed at speeding up affordable housing construction and eroding the City Council's powers over land use will be on the ballot in November after they survived a Board of Elections vote that could have stripped them off the ballot. After the City Council claimed that the questions were written to mislead voters about how the ballot measures would limit legislative authority on land use decisions, the Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to keep the questions.
Deutsch-Gross has been Transform's Policy Director since 2022. During that time, he has spearheaded campaigns that led to major advocacy wins, forged powerful coalitions, and helped craft a bold vision for a more just, sustainable, and connected California. His leadership has played a central role in ongoing discussions about regional and statewide policies to preserve funding for affordable housing, save Bay Area transit from fiscal collapse, and move our state transportation policy beyond highway widening.
The company that makes them, Reframe, is the latest outfit chasing the construction sector's forever dream, in which buildings are assembled in factories like computers or cars, saving time and money in a field that everyone agrees requires too much of both. The technical name for this practice is modular construction, which has at times seemed as if it is the undisputed technology of the future.
You cannot see the above depicted 68 tiny-home complex called Mission Cabins at 16th and Mission streets, because it is behind huge black gates. But it has been there since it opened in April 2024, and did not come without a fight from the neighborhood, as Capp Street residents felt like they'd already dealt with plenty enough blight near Marshall Elementary School.
A New York City teacher earning $70,000 applies for an affordable housing unit in Queens and is told she doesn't qualify. Not because she makes too much money, but because she doesn't make enough. The "affordable" one-bedroom requires a minimum income of $90,000, and even the studio required $75,000; just out of reach. Stories like this illustrate a broader paradox in New York's housing policy.
Mobile and manufactured homes are increasingly vital as a source of naturally occurring affordable housing, particularly for low- and moderate-income households facing barriers to traditional homeownership. Despite their affordability, many older mobile homes face structural issues due to their temporary design, such as vulnerability to climate change. Nevada County, CA, has initiated the Manufactured Housing Opportunity and Revitalization (MORE) program to assist mobile-home owners in repairing or replacing homes to maintain affordability and prevent displacement.
This year's exhibits will include entire model homes ranging from manufactured and modular to 3D-printed designs developed by companies from across the U.S. Guardian Structural Technologies (GST) a Cleveland-based innovator in energy-efficient housing is showcasting its award-winning SHIELD Panel system. GST's galvanized steel and EPS foam panels speed construction while boosting energy efficiency, with more than 1,400 buildings completed nationwide. A finalist in Cleveland's initiative to deliver 5,000 affordable homes, GST is piloting modular housing with Habitat for Humanity.
San Jose is advancing its housing initiatives with the completion of the environmental report for a townhome project at 5670 Camden Avenue in the Cambrian area. Developer Mana Camden Fund LLC proposes 108 units spread across 32 structures, transforming baseball fields and green space behind Beacon School into residential spaces. This development leverages the Builder's Remedy under the Housing Accountability Act for efficient approvals, including 22 deed-restricted low-income affordable units to support diverse community needs.
When Mountain View shared their idea, I jumped at the chance to bring this idea to fruition in Congress, Liccardo said referring to the city in his district that recommended expanding CDBG flexibility. As Mayor of San Jose, I saw firsthand how cities are forced to face the brunt of the housing crisis without the federal money to match the magnitude. Easing restrictions on municipalities' use of CDBG funds will help us meet our communities' growing needs faster.
"From a thriving industrial hub to a home for artists and entrepreneurs, Long Island City has led many lives over the years," Adams said in a statement. "Our OneLIC Plan will help Long Island City write the next great chapter in its history, making sure families can find an affordable place, businesses can find a good place to grow, and everyone can access and enjoy the waterfront throughout the neighborhood."
Dozens of organisations have signed an open letter calling on the government to scrap office-to-residential conversions in England, which analysis has found led to the loss of almost 28,000 affordable homes. Local government campaigners, housing providers and homelessness charities have all joined the call to abolish some permitted development rights (PDR), which grant automatic planning permission to building projects and are often used to convert office blocks into housing.
Heather Colley and her two children moved four times over five years as they fled high rents in eastern Tennessee, which, like much of rural America, hasn't been spared from soaring housing costs. A family gift in 2021 of a small plot of land offered a shot at homeownership, but building a house was beyond reach for the 45-year-old single mother and manicurist making $18.50 an hour.
A new affordable housing lottery geared toward New York City seniors has officially opened in the West Village. Located at 570 Washington St., the units are designed to support individuals aged 62 and older. The units are being delivered as part of the 550 Washington Street / Special Hudson River Park District rezoning. Of the 176 units, 57 are studios (for households of 12; income up to $64,800), 40 are one-bedrooms (for households of 13; income up to $72,900),
Building new homes takes a long, long time. Often, developments get stuck in the planning system for years and years before they finally start construction, and that means housing isn't getting built fast enough to keep up with demand. But the government has come up with a scheme that it hopes will solve that. Two London neighbourhoods are among six sites in England that have just been added to the government's New Homes Accelerator programme.
A 100% affordable housing project broke ground at 16th and DeHaro streets Monday morning, and this is newsworthy, because it's being built by a market-rate developer, and it was not originally going to be affordable housing. If you've spent much time in Potrero Hill, you probably know the unique blue building on a triangular lot at 16th and DeHaro streets (seen below).
Rockford, Illinois homes( ZIP 61108) rank No. 11 on Realtor.com®'s 2025 Hottest ZIP Codes list , making this northern Illinois city one of the most in-demand housing markets in the Midwest. Known for its affordability, accessibility, and revitalizing neighborhoods, Rockford is attracting buyers looking for value without sacrificing amenities. From January to June 2025, Rockford listings received 3.4 times more views per property than the U.S. average and sold in a median of just 24 days. The median listing price was $188,000-well below the national median of $441,000-making it one of the most affordable markets in the Top 50.
The housing crisis in the U.S. has left many feeling the pinch of rising rents and unattainable homeownership. Amidst the shortage of 4 million units and a historic low in affordability, various housing plans are being proposed in Washington.
