Introduction
It is important to note that urban planning is one of the key aspects of urbanization, which affects how housing policies are implemented and how neighborhoods are established. The knowledge gained throughout the semester is invaluable one, has a great degree of utility in both my private and professional endeavors. Housing, neighborhoods, and real estate markets are primarily determined by urban planning, policies, and practices, the failures of which are the causes for the existing housing problems, but a healthy neighborhoods approach can be a solution.
Discussion
Firstly, at the beginning of the semester, I considered the subject to be mostly about designing streets and blocks. However, now, I learned that urban planning goes much deeper than what I assumed previously. It essentially impacts every aspect of every resident’s life, starting from how he or she moves to what resources he or she can have access to since it creates communities, neighborhoods, and real estate markets. The role of urban planning in American society has been and continues to be profound. I learned how housing policies shape the borders of neighborhoods, and I additionally know that it is a complex challenge to regulate the real estate market’s supply and demand.
The most valuable aspect of the course is that it enabled a greater understanding in me when it comes to major housing and planning issues. The planners have a significant influence on the design and placement of neighborhoods, which is done through economic development, preservation, transportation, public facilities, and land use. The latter has become one of the most impactful factors on housing affordability, exacerbating housing shortage and access, especially for low-income populations. High prices tend to undermine the quality of the houses built as well, which is a unique market development considering that higher prices are usually correlated with a greater quality of a product. However, in real estate, the value of a commodity is greatly tied to a multitude of factors, among which the land plays a major role.
Secondly, the specific aspect of a lecture topic of interest is the building healthy neighborhoods approach. The main reason is that the framework offers a real solution instead of simply informing on multitudes of problems in the existing system of the real estate markets with their underlying issues of policies. It is essentially an asset-based and market-driven strategy, where the building comes from strength, and demand is created for housing (Poland, 2020). In addition, the healthy neighborhoods approach seeks to allocate investment in places of scarcity of resources, which implies a targeted investing strategy (Poland, 2020). It mainly focuses on building communities at its core, and thus, it is not solely about housing itself.
The methods healthy neighborhoods approach is of the highest interest to me since its purpose is to restore real estate market value instead of purely making houses code-compliant and safe. Its strategy is to choose properties for the best visual market impact rather than repair, and it responds to consumers with the most price-strengthening impact. The standards adhere to quality rehabilitation expectations by developing resident incentives for specific outcomes. The healthy neighborhoods approach supports services, markets the neighborhoods, and harnesses community pride.
Conclusion
In conclusion, urban planning affects housing, neighborhoods, and real estate markets through policies and practices, the failures of which are the causes of the existing housing problems. A healthy neighborhoods approach can be a solution, and it is essentially an asset-based and market-driven strategy, where the building comes from strength and demand is created for the housing. It builds communities that are valuable in the real estate market instead of making affordable neighborhoods with low market value.
Reference
Poland, D. J. (2020). Introduction to planning: Lecture VII: Housing & neighborhoods [PPT slide].