What Upzoning Actually Does to Housing

The ROAD to Housing Act is now law. But passing the bill was only the beginning. In this episode, YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss sits down with Reed Schwartz and Will Poff-Webster of the Institute for Progress and Tara Roche of the Pew Charitable Trusts to talk about what comes next and how housing advocates can help turn the bill’s sweeping reforms into real-world changes.From manufactured housing and financing to federal incentives like BUILD NOW, the conversation explores how the ROAD to Housing Act could reshape the way governments approach housing. They discuss why state and local advocates have an important role to play, what implementation could look like across the country, and where the next generation of federal housing policy could be headed.Want to learn more? Check out some of the resources and research mentioned in this episode.The Success of the New Federal Housing Law Now Rests on States and Localities: https://ifp.org/the-success-of-the-new-federal-housing-law-now-rests-on-states-and-localities/State Policies Could Unlock the Potential of Manufactured Housing: https://www.pew.org/nb/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/09/09/state-policies-could-unlock-the-potential-of-manufactured-housingJoin YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-listLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/joinFollow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Why does the U.S. require so many apartment buildings to have two stairways? In this episode, YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss sits down with Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Building in North America, and Nashville Councilmember Rollin Horton to discuss the rise of single-stair reform and what it reveals about the building codes that shape housing across the country. The conversation explores how single-stair reform spread from experiences in Europe and Seattle to cities like Nashville, how Horton helped make it law, and why it passed unanimously despite facing opposition from fire officials.They also discuss why single-stair reform can make smaller multifamily buildings more feasible, how zoning determines where these buildings can actually be built, and why changing building codes alone isn't enough to solve our housing shortage. They dig into the history and problems with fire escapes, the relationship between building design and air conditioning, and how requirements around windows, light wells, lot-line windows, and occupied roofs can shape the homes that get built.The conversation then turns to what could become the “next single stair,” including the high cost of elevators, plumbing requirements, and window standards, as well as Nashville's recent reforms to make childcare easier to build. They wrap up the discussion with whether better-looking buildings could reduce opposition to new housing, why aesthetics haven't necessarily softened NIMBY opposition, and how building codes and zoning can unintentionally produce worse and more expensive housing.Want to learn more? Check out some of the resources and research mentioned in this episode.Stephen Smith and Eduardo Mendoza's research on single-stair housing: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/cityscape/vol26num1/article25.htmlStephen Smith's report on elevators: https://admin.centerforbuilding.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Elevators.pdfNashville's single-stair legislation: https://nashville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?FullText=1&GUID=E78FEA01-2914-44F0-AA1C-AC9E5F20F6FF&ID=6500897&utmSeattle's single-stair reform: https://www.theurbanist.org/seattles-lead-on-single-stair-buildings/Does ugly architecture stop homes from getting built: https://worksinprogress.co/issue/beauty-in-my-backyard/Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-listLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/joinFollow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/ 

Does upzoning actually lead to more housing?   In this episode, YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss sits down with Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Urban Institute, to discuss his latest research on how upzoning affects housing construction in New York City and Philadelphia.   The conversation explores what makes an upzoning effective, why some zoning changes produce more housing than others, and what Yonah’s earlier research on Chicago taught him about the relationship between zoning, development, and property values. Sonja and Yonah also discuss how new housing affects affordability through “moving chains,” why median rents can obscure people’s actual experiences with housing costs, and why housing supply can have different effects in different types of communities.   They also discuss the relationship between researchers and housing advocates, how YIMBY activism has helped create new opportunities for housing research, and why advocates need both on-the-ground experience and research to make stronger arguments for housing policy.   Yonah Freemark's recent research discussed in this episode: https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/what-made-zoning-reforms-philadelphia-and-new-york-city-impactful Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

In this episode, YIMBY Action Executive Director Laura Foote sits down with Will Wilson, volunteer leader of our RVA YIMBY chapter, and Brian Goggin, an affordable housing developer, urbanist, and Policy and Project Manager with True Ground Housing Partners. Together, they discuss how the Commonwealth Housing Coalition helped make Virginia's 2026 legislative session one of the state's most successful for pro-housing reform to date. The conversation explores how a growing coalition of advocates helped pass landmark legislation legalizing more accessory dwelling units (ADUs), expanding opportunities for faith-based housing, reforming parking requirements near transit, and allowing manufactured housing in more communities. They also discuss the political strategy behind building bipartisan support, overcoming local opposition, and why coalition-building has become one of the YIMBY movement's most effective tools. Laura, Will, and Brian also look ahead to what's next for Virginia, including implementation challenges, future zoning reforms, permitting improvements, and how grassroots organizing continues to shape housing policy across the state. Whether you're interested in housing advocacy, land-use reform, or the politics of building more homes, this episode offers an inside look into how meaningful policy change happens. Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about the Commonwealth Housing Coalition: https://www.commonwealthhousingcoalition.org/ Learn more about our RVA YIMBY chapter: https://rvayimby.org/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

In this episode, YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss sits down with Alex Horowitz, Project Director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts, to explore new research on how housing supply impacts affordability across American cities. The conversation examines the concept of “moving chains”—the process by which new housing creates opportunities throughout the housing market as residents move between homes. Sonja and Alex discuss why housing shortages disproportionately harm low-income renters, how new market-rate housing can reduce pressure on existing affordable units, and what the data reveals about the relationship between housing production and affordability. They also explore common misconceptions about new development, the political challenges surrounding housing production, and why zoning restrictions and permitting delays continue to worsen affordability nationwide. If you’ve ever wondered whether building more housing actually lowers costs, this episode offers a data-driven look at one of the most important debates in housing policy today. Read the research discussed in this episode: https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2025/07/31/new-housing-slows-rent-growth-most-for-older-more-affordable-units Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

In this wide-ranging conversation, Scott Wiener traces his journey from a childhood shaped by building community from scratch to becoming one of the country’s most influential pro-housing lawmakers. He walks through the moment the housing crisis “clicked” for him—defending tenants facing eviction, watching even compliant projects get buried in process, and realizing that scarcity isn’t accidental—it’s policy. Tune in to hear Scott and YIMBY Law's Sonja Trauss discuss how political courage actually develops: from lived experience, data, and the quiet realization that the loudest voices aren’t always the majority.   The conversation also dives into the politics of governing in the real world, from delivering constituent services that build trust, to navigating backlash across issues like housing and foreign policy. Wiener lays out an ambitious federal housing vision: massive investment, faster permitting, and aligning incentives so cities actually build. He makes the YIMBY case clear: if we want affordability, stability, and equity, we have to build more homes, faster.   Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

In this episode of Infill,  listeners will meet Patrick Wolff, long-time YIMBY and candidate for Insurance Commissioner in CA. During the discussion, Sonja Trauss and Wolff unpack a wonky but critical issue: how California’s broken insurance market is making the housing crisis even worse. Wolff explains how outdated regulations, climate-driven risk, and a dysfunctional approval process have turned insurance into a major barrier for Californians, and how policy threads through our housing supply and housing insurance problems.   They also dig into Wolff's vision for reform, including improving transparency, encouraging innovation in risk reduction, and restoring a healthy market. It’s a deep dive into an overlooked but powerful lever for affordability, climate resilience, and better governance. Tune in to hear more about Patrick and his campaign, which is going on right now!   Learn more about Patrick Wolff: https://patrickwolff.com/   Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join   Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/   Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social   Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/  

On this episode of the Infill Podcast, we’re giving listeners an inside look at YIMBY Action’s new Scorecards for statewide elected officials, starting with Virginia. Rising housing prices are a huge concern for American voters. YIMBY Action’s Scorecards will be a critical tool for residents to understand which elected officials are taking bold action on housing, so we can make our neighborhoods more affordable for everyone.In this discussion, we’ll talk to the architect behind the first YIMBY Action Scorecard, our very own Senior Campaigns Manager Joh Gehlbach. We’ll discuss what these Scorecards tell voters, what we’re already learning from this Virginia iteration, and how this tool will help voters and advocates cut through the noise and hold legislators accountable. Read the Scorecard: https://yimbyaction.org/scorecards/2025-virginia-state-scorecards/Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/joinFollow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction

Meet Drake Warren, a 26-year-old running for Cook County Commissioner in Illinois. He is an engineer and housing advocate who fell in love with Chicago in college. Now, he wants to give back to the community he has made a home in by running for a local government office. He believes that Chicago has begun to lose its YIMBY roots and wants to serve his community by running for office, so that he can help more homes be built in his city and county. On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Jennifer Borrero speaks with Drake about why he was inspired to run for Cook County Commissioner. He breaks down what he thinks current leaders are missing in housing policy, and why more people must become familiar with local politics. They also discuss the importance of having balanced experiences in government and finally, how we can get more young folks plugged into local government and advocacy. If you're curious about what it's like to run for local office or want to hear a great discussion about how local politics shapes the world around us, then this is the episode for you. Tune in! Learn more about Drake Warren: https://drakefor10.com/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Law’s Executive Director Sonja Trauss sits down with author Marc J. Dunkelman to tackle one of the biggest questions facing Americans today: why are we unable to build the infrastructure, housing, and public works that our communities so desperately need? Drawing from his new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back, Dunkelman explores how even well-intentioned procedural reforms, community protections, and environmental reviews can create veto points that stall change, particularly in housing policy. They also delve into the shift in Americans’ connectedness that has impacted our political landscape, what tactics and reforms could cut through the red tape, and how housing advocates can push for structural shifts that unlock homebuilding, transit, and equity. Finally, Marc and Sonja explore the similarities and differences between Dunkelman’s thesis in Why Nothing Works and the thesis of Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson in their book, Abundance. In addition to highlighting the challenges of the bureaucratic processes we have now, Dunkelman also encourages readers and listeners of this episode to consider who should have the power to make decisions on behalf of communities. Tune in to hear more about the changes that Dunkelman has written about in American politics, and the historical context of the tension we are still feeling today as we navigate decisions about the architecture of power. Get Marc Dunkelman’s newest book, Why Nothing Works, here: https://rjjulia.com/book/9781541700215Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/joinFollow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/