Zoning codes overwhelmingly treat multifamily housing as its own kind of pollution
Per @wcurrangroome.bsky.social, @yonahfreemark.com, and Andrew Whittemore in "Home on a Highway: How Zoning, Housing Development, and Highway Construction Shape Pollution Exposure," zoning policies have historically concentrated multifamily housing along busy roads. www.urban.org/research/pub...
Home on a Highway
High-traffic roads serve as a framework for new development in the United States, but noise and air pollution from cars and trucks negatively affect surround…
www.urban.org
November 10, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Zoning codes overwhelmingly treat multifamily housing as its own kind of pollution
New image created by Steven Vance
A traditional style multifamily condo building is under construction.
www.chicagocityscape.com/document/4182
A traditional style multifamily condo building is under construction.
www.chicagocityscape.com/document/4182
November 10, 2026 at 10:45 PM
New image created by Steven Vance
A traditional style multifamily condo building is under construction.
www.chicagocityscape.com/document/4182
A traditional style multifamily condo building is under construction.
www.chicagocityscape.com/document/4182
Here's a map of the 157 apartment buildings that have been issued building permits in Los Angeles in 2026, color coded by unit count.
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/e...
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/e...
Multifamily Permits Issued - 2026 (through November) - Google My Maps
Multifamily Permits Issued - 2026 (through November)
www.google.com
November 11, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Here's a map of the 157 apartment buildings that have been issued building permits in Los Angeles in 2026, color coded by unit count.
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/e...
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/e...
How denser multifamily housing helped clean up Lake Washington
How denser multifamily housing helped clean up Lake Washington
Conventional wisdom holds that as cities grow, nearby bodies of water suffer from increased pollution. According to a 25-year study by King County scientists published in the peer-reviewed journal Ecosphere last year, Lake Washington grew clearer, less nutrient-polluted, and measurably … Continue reading →
dlvr.it
November 8, 2026 at 3:06 PM
How denser multifamily housing helped clean up Lake Washington
And look at what Texas actually built: 985,595 of those 2.77M permitted homes (35.5%) were multifamily apartments.
Multifamily made up 68% of all new housing permitted in Dallas County (151k units), 62% in Travis/Austin (159k), 49% in Bexar/SA (61k), and 44% in Harris/Houston (200k).
Multifamily made up 68% of all new housing permitted in Dallas County (151k units), 62% in Travis/Austin (159k), 49% in Bexar/SA (61k), and 44% in Harris/Houston (200k).
Preferably not suburban sprawl like Texas but hell even the suburbs vote Democratic because the Republicans are insane authoritarian freaks.
Moral of the story:
You want a blue wall?
BUILD
HOUSING
FOR
YOUNG
PEOPLE
You want a blue wall?
BUILD
HOUSING
FOR
YOUNG
PEOPLE
November 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
And look at what Texas actually built: 985,595 of those 2.77M permitted homes (35.5%) were multifamily apartments.
Multifamily made up 68% of all new housing permitted in Dallas County (151k units), 62% in Travis/Austin (159k), 49% in Bexar/SA (61k), and 44% in Harris/Houston (200k).
Multifamily made up 68% of all new housing permitted in Dallas County (151k units), 62% in Travis/Austin (159k), 49% in Bexar/SA (61k), and 44% in Harris/Houston (200k).
Mapping this out for Chicago.
Since the redistricting in 2023, in Ward 47, a significant majority of multifamily housing units permitted are located on streets with > 50dBA road noise
The new redlining
Since the redistricting in 2023, in Ward 47, a significant majority of multifamily housing units permitted are located on streets with > 50dBA road noise
The new redlining
November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Mapping this out for Chicago.
Since the redistricting in 2023, in Ward 47, a significant majority of multifamily housing units permitted are located on streets with > 50dBA road noise
The new redlining
Since the redistricting in 2023, in Ward 47, a significant majority of multifamily housing units permitted are located on streets with > 50dBA road noise
The new redlining
Oh yes, BAAJA is a housing bill too. And it’s a particular help to multifamily and affordable housing projects, which depend disproportionately on federal money. See our joint letter!
November 9, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Oh yes, BAAJA is a housing bill too. And it’s a particular help to multifamily and affordable housing projects, which depend disproportionately on federal money. See our joint letter!
It’s incomplete, because I’m just looking at 5+ unit multifamily, but…
RHNA pace requires 57,000 units a year
So far we’ve permitted around 14,000 multifamily units this year
RHNA pace requires 57,000 units a year
So far we’ve permitted around 14,000 multifamily units this year
November 11, 2026 at 3:31 PM
It’s incomplete, because I’m just looking at 5+ unit multifamily, but…
RHNA pace requires 57,000 units a year
So far we’ve permitted around 14,000 multifamily units this year
RHNA pace requires 57,000 units a year
So far we’ve permitted around 14,000 multifamily units this year
the equity investors pay less and less for units as their leverage grows, allowing them to take over entire complexes at a fraction of the cost of building new housing or buying existing multifamily residential housing.
Now, many condo deconversion laws do have some (limited) safeguards for owners.
Now, many condo deconversion laws do have some (limited) safeguards for owners.
November 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM
the equity investors pay less and less for units as their leverage grows, allowing them to take over entire complexes at a fraction of the cost of building new housing or buying existing multifamily residential housing.
Now, many condo deconversion laws do have some (limited) safeguards for owners.
Now, many condo deconversion laws do have some (limited) safeguards for owners.
Tenant Union Federation policy team stalwart @carolinenagy.bsky.social of @ourfinancialsecurity.org with a great piece on how increasing multifamily distress calls for us to deploy anti-displacement & preservation strategies like TOPA & acquisition by public sector & non-profit developers.
As Multifamily Properties Face Increased Distress, We Need Solutions to Keep Tenants Housed
www.newamerica.org
November 10, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Tenant Union Federation policy team stalwart @carolinenagy.bsky.social of @ourfinancialsecurity.org with a great piece on how increasing multifamily distress calls for us to deploy anti-displacement & preservation strategies like TOPA & acquisition by public sector & non-profit developers.
“AYA New York Lands $104M for Manhattan Multifamily Refi” — Multifamily Housing News
#NYCNews #Manhattan #NYC
#NYCNews #Manhattan #NYC
November 11, 2026 at 2:40 PM
“AYA New York Lands $104M for Manhattan Multifamily Refi” — Multifamily Housing News
#NYCNews #Manhattan #NYC
#NYCNews #Manhattan #NYC
Reminder that legalizing apartments in more places is not just a solution for affordability...
"Shifting growth toward denser multifamily housing helped protect the lake by upgrading older infrastructure and containing runoff."
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
"Shifting growth toward denser multifamily housing helped protect the lake by upgrading older infrastructure and containing runoff."
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
November 9, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Reminder that legalizing apartments in more places is not just a solution for affordability...
"Shifting growth toward denser multifamily housing helped protect the lake by upgrading older infrastructure and containing runoff."
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
"Shifting growth toward denser multifamily housing helped protect the lake by upgrading older infrastructure and containing runoff."
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
I am literally a botanist by training who lives in multifamily housing in the second-densest city in America and I have a garden.
November 10, 2026 at 9:45 PM
I am literally a botanist by training who lives in multifamily housing in the second-densest city in America and I have a garden.
I want there to be so much multifamily housing that there's enough market segmentation to support buildings marketed as "quiet place for grown ass adults who need eight hours of sleep" and "dude bros who wanna hang with their buds at 11pm on a Sunday."
November 10, 2026 at 12:10 AM
I want there to be so much multifamily housing that there's enough market segmentation to support buildings marketed as "quiet place for grown ass adults who need eight hours of sleep" and "dude bros who wanna hang with their buds at 11pm on a Sunday."
Zoning impacts construction.
Looking at the Dallas region, we show that new apartments were much more likely to be located near highways than new single-family homes.
Looking nationally, we find that LIHTC projects—affordable housing—were much more likely to be neighborhoods with highways.
Looking at the Dallas region, we show that new apartments were much more likely to be located near highways than new single-family homes.
Looking nationally, we find that LIHTC projects—affordable housing—were much more likely to be neighborhoods with highways.
November 10, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Zoning impacts construction.
Looking at the Dallas region, we show that new apartments were much more likely to be located near highways than new single-family homes.
Looking nationally, we find that LIHTC projects—affordable housing—were much more likely to be neighborhoods with highways.
Looking at the Dallas region, we show that new apartments were much more likely to be located near highways than new single-family homes.
Looking nationally, we find that LIHTC projects—affordable housing—were much more likely to be neighborhoods with highways.
Brick rainbow 😍
November 10, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Brick rainbow 😍
We find very clear evidence that zoning disproportionately positions high-density development, like apartments, near high-traffic, high-pollution roadways.
Across multiple datasets, we show that areas near highways are more likely zoned for multifamily buildings; opposite is true further away.
Across multiple datasets, we show that areas near highways are more likely zoned for multifamily buildings; opposite is true further away.
November 10, 2026 at 2:17 PM
We find very clear evidence that zoning disproportionately positions high-density development, like apartments, near high-traffic, high-pollution roadways.
Across multiple datasets, we show that areas near highways are more likely zoned for multifamily buildings; opposite is true further away.
Across multiple datasets, we show that areas near highways are more likely zoned for multifamily buildings; opposite is true further away.
I'm into woodworking and live in multifamily housing
November 10, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I'm into woodworking and live in multifamily housing
If you look at your city's first zoning maps, you may notice apartment districts surrounded by industrial zoning. It was redlining from the start. Fast-forward a hundred years, and apartments are still zoned to be surrounded by one of the most polluting forms of land use: arterial roadways.
November 10, 2026 at 3:09 PM
If you look at your city's first zoning maps, you may notice apartment districts surrounded by industrial zoning. It was redlining from the start. Fast-forward a hundred years, and apartments are still zoned to be surrounded by one of the most polluting forms of land use: arterial roadways.
Q(@markusja.bsky.social): Works as urban planner in Washington. Has dealt with this issue in his professional life.
In seattle, we've had a history of single stair buildings 4-5 story walkups. "It'd be a shame if the next generation of multifamily buildings are built w/o elevators."
In seattle, we've had a history of single stair buildings 4-5 story walkups. "It'd be a shame if the next generation of multifamily buildings are built w/o elevators."
November 10, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Q(@markusja.bsky.social): Works as urban planner in Washington. Has dealt with this issue in his professional life.
In seattle, we've had a history of single stair buildings 4-5 story walkups. "It'd be a shame if the next generation of multifamily buildings are built w/o elevators."
In seattle, we've had a history of single stair buildings 4-5 story walkups. "It'd be a shame if the next generation of multifamily buildings are built w/o elevators."
Run it through the Fed and mandate that it print money to finance new multifamily during downturns. Get in folks, we are derisking housing construction.
November 5, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Run it through the Fed and mandate that it print money to finance new multifamily during downturns. Get in folks, we are derisking housing construction.
Multifamily aerial rendering for a site in entitlements: 390 units, 13 buildings, people on the trail.
https://www.thepreview3d.com/assets/multifamily
Built with Northlake Capital Ventures
#MultiFamily #3DRendering
https://www.thepreview3d.com/assets/multifamily
Built with Northlake Capital Ventures
#MultiFamily #3DRendering
November 10, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Multifamily aerial rendering for a site in entitlements: 390 units, 13 buildings, people on the trail.
https://www.thepreview3d.com/assets/multifamily
Built with Northlake Capital Ventures
#MultiFamily #3DRendering
https://www.thepreview3d.com/assets/multifamily
Built with Northlake Capital Ventures
#MultiFamily #3DRendering
Apparently, our watersheds like condos and density too!
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
How denser multifamily housing helped clean up Lake Washington
Conventional wisdom holds that as cities grow, nearby bodies of water suffer from increased pollution. According to a 25-year study by King County scientists published in the peer-reviewed journal …
www.capitolhillseattle.com
November 8, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Apparently, our watersheds like condos and density too!
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/11/how-...
(Laugh all you will at small towns and us rurals and some of our rube flavored acts - see defeating needed multifamily housing, it’s funny to me - but you’ll also see it’s not a monolith and there’s plenty of people fighting for a better world even in little #Watertown.)
November 10, 2026 at 10:02 PM
(Laugh all you will at small towns and us rurals and some of our rube flavored acts - see defeating needed multifamily housing, it’s funny to me - but you’ll also see it’s not a monolith and there’s plenty of people fighting for a better world even in little #Watertown.)