Devil in the details: How outdated zoning code stymies development
With an analysis of its antiquated zoning laws and a newly restructured planning department, Boston is laying the groundwork to address housing shortages and meet its sustainability goals.
The US Cities With the Highest Rents
An East Coast metro scooted by San Francisco to become the second-most expensive for a one-bedroom apartment this month. As nationally, growth in rent prices showed signs of slowing.
Can a Christian Flag Fly at City Hall? Supreme Court Will Decide
Shurtleff v. Boston raises important questions about free speech and religion in public spaces.
Introducing Route Fifty's Infrastructure Update
In this first edition of our new weekly newsletter, we look at the implications of the November election results on infrastructure issues around the U.S.
Boston Will Elect Someone Other Than a White Man as Mayor for the First Time
Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George, both women of color, will advance to the two-person general mayoral election set for November 2.
How Urban Planning and Housing Policy Helped Create ‘Food Apartheid’ in U.S. Cities
COMMENTARY | The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 54.4 million Americans live in low-income areas with poor access to healthy food. For city residents, this means they are more than half a mile from the nearest supermarket.
Push to Remove Racist Names Draws Support—And Backlash
"We need to have this conversation."
D.C.'s Transit System Won't Fully Restart Service Until Next Spring
A phased recovery plan for the Metro system in the Washington, D.C. area doesn't envision a quick return to normal levels of service. Across the country, transit agencies are figuring out how to balance safety and service.
Cities Rush to Respond as Homelessness and Coronavirus Collide
Homeless people are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. Cities are working to implement protective measures, often with no idea how they'll pay for it.
Cities and States Look to Tap More Tax Revenue From Expensive Real Estate Sales
“It basically allows for luxury housing to pay for affordable housing,” said a Boston city council member describing a "transfer" tax proposal there.
How One City Saved $5 Million by Routing School Buses with an Algorithm
The Boston Public School District held a contest to determine the best solution for busing around 25,000 students to school every day. The winning algorithm improved the efficiency of the routes in 30 minutes.
The Utter Inadequacy of America’s Efforts to Desegregate Schools
In 1966, a group of Boston-area parents and administrators created a busing program called METCO to help desegregate schools. They thought of it as a quick fix to a passing problem. But the problem hasn’t passed, and METCO isn’t enough to fix it.
General Electric to Pay Back State Incentives After Backtracking on New Headquarters
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Ann Arbor dioxane plume … Norfolk’s recycling quandary … and the Bay Area’s new managed toll lane agreement.
Boston Looks to Shore Up Its Harbor Against Flooding in 2019
The city wants a $10 million federal grant to make its coastline more resilient ahead of disasters.
Verizon Extending Fiber Network to Every Boston Neighborhood
The move will pave the way for an unscheduled 5G rollout, though the telecom giant was mum on any city concessions in the new agreement.
A New Approach for Families Experiencing Homelessness In Boston
2018 NAVIGATOR AWARD WINNER: Annissa Essaibi-George, Boston City Councilor, City of Boston, Massachusetts.
'Living With Water': Facing Climate Change, Cities Trade Sea Walls for Parks
City planners now say they are increasingly turning to methods aligned with the Dutch concept of “living with water.” Instead of resisting water, cities are channeling it to where they want it to go.
Mayors More Likely to Perceive Discrimination Nationally than Locally, Report Says
The survey, released by the National League of Cities, is based on interviews with 115 mayors from 39 states.
‘Troubling’ Findings on Who Speaks Up About Housing Development
New research highlights concerns that local officials are hearing a narrow subset of views at public meetings.
In and Around Boston, the Green Line Gets Many Green Lights
The MBTA’s new GLX project will connect to America’s oldest subway line and surface corridors seeing major investments in transit-priority signals. Here’s what’s underway.
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