Smart growth news- June 15, 2012
Top Stories
States, Congress Hampering Recovery in Cities, U.S. Mayors Say
Bloomberg Businessweek- June 15, 2012
U.S. cities recovering from the worst recession since the 1930s are hampered by partisan bickering in Washington, D.C., and pressure from state lawmakers to fill budget shortfalls, U.S. mayors say.
Why Housing Affordability Is a Mirage
The Wall Street Journal- June 14, 2012
Home prices and mortgage rates have made monthly mortgage payments lower than at any time in the past decade. But housing isn’t any more affordable than it was five years ago, during the go-go lending days, after factoring in down payment requirements and other financing terms, according to a new paper.
As Charlotte Expands, A Neighborhood Asks How Best to Urbanize
Next American City- June 14, 2012
More than a half-century after Park Road Shopping Center sprouted at what was then the southern edge of Charlotte, N.C., the Park Road-Woodlawn Road area has held up remarkably well.
Arlington, Alexandria compromise on streetcar line
Washington Post- June 14, 2012
The Arlington County and Alexandria city governments, divided over how best to pay for a streetcar line through the congested corridor between Pentagon City and Potomac Yards, have crafted a compromise aimed funding the project and addressing the expected growth and density in the area.