Why minimum lot size reform should be on every city’s housing agenda
Minimum lot size requirements restrict the number of homes that can be built, even where demand and infrastructure support more....
New York’s toll zone cut pollution sharply — here’s what cities should know
Pollution levels inside the toll zone dropped by about one-fifth, and smaller improvements showed up across the city and surrounding...
Cities can fast-track infill housing with pre-approved plans—and they should
Pre-approved housing plans are a pragmatic, cost-effective way to deliver that. Builders get speed and certainty. Residents get homes. Governments...
Cities should stick to the basics of governing
From The Hill
Why cities that won millennials are now losing families
What’s missing is not just housing but a holistic view of families as integral to civic health. Policies that make...
What cities can learn from the backlash against data centers
Data centers may be part of the future, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Cities will need to balance...
What other cities can learn from New York’s decade of housing regulation
Each initiative was politically popular and framed as a temporary response to economic pressure. Yet taken together, these measures fundamentally...
Streamlining housing growth: what Baltimore’s zoning reforms mean for cities nationwide
The core of Baltimore’s reforms is regulatory simplification. By removing a mandated minimum of off‑street parking, the city lowers one...
Why some cities are hiring robots—and what they’ve learned so far
Kansas City’s fire department now operates a robot capable of delivering 2,500 gallons of water per minute—more than a standard...
The Chicago Bears’ stadium debt should give other cities pause
Public subsidies for professional sports venues are frequently pitched as economic catalysts, promising jobs, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization. But when...
BCP helps local leaders leverage public policy to create freer and happier communities. We uncover what works, promote solutions, and forge partnerships that turn ideas into results.
© 2025 Better Cities Project
Beyond the spectacle, Kansas City prepares for World Cup reality