Emily Hamilton
@ebwhamilton.bsky.social
Excuse me, do you have a moment to talk about zoning?
This was a great conference, with a keynote by Mississippi Gov. Reeves which was the most interesting keynote by a politician I've ever heard
I was, apparently, super locked in during the housing panel with @ebwhamilton.bsky.social and others at FREOPP's conference on Friday. FREOPP is a great think tank dedicated to lifting up Americans in the bottom half of the income scale, check them out!
November 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
This was a great conference, with a keynote by Mississippi Gov. Reeves which was the most interesting keynote by a politician I've ever heard
Relative to peer jurisdictions, I think Arlington County, VA is quite well-governed. However, the county has an advisory panel going to consider big changes to our governance, including a ❗ move from at-large to district-based representation❗
November 25, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Relative to peer jurisdictions, I think Arlington County, VA is quite well-governed. However, the county has an advisory panel going to consider big changes to our governance, including a ❗ move from at-large to district-based representation❗
Core vocabulary of the baby sister:
1) mine
2) me first
3) mio mio mio
1) mine
2) me first
3) mio mio mio
November 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Core vocabulary of the baby sister:
1) mine
2) me first
3) mio mio mio
1) mine
2) me first
3) mio mio mio
Free movie idea: gritty IMAX reboot of The Great Escape starring Tom Hardy after he was captured from Dunkirk
November 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Free movie idea: gritty IMAX reboot of The Great Escape starring Tom Hardy after he was captured from Dunkirk
It's interesting to me that Freddie de Boer is so dismissive of improving pedagogy in teaching reading when communist countries famously achieve/achieved very high literacy rates: freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/there-are-...
There Are No Miracles in Education
can we please not redo the Waiting for "Superman" era of ed discourse? please?
freddiedeboer.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
It's interesting to me that Freddie de Boer is so dismissive of improving pedagogy in teaching reading when communist countries famously achieve/achieved very high literacy rates: freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/there-are-...
I agree that most Americans want a detached single-family house in the abstract, but current policy that skews development toward this one type suffer. Under current policy, people have to pay a premium for walkability and density, holding house size constant: www.mercatus.org/research/res...
November 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I agree that most Americans want a detached single-family house in the abstract, but current policy that skews development toward this one type suffer. Under current policy, people have to pay a premium for walkability and density, holding house size constant: www.mercatus.org/research/res...
Welton Sanders’ book Manufactured Housing has lots of examples of two-story HUD code homes
November 19, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Welton Sanders’ book Manufactured Housing has lots of examples of two-story HUD code homes
My contribution to the Mark Sanford discourse is that he’s the only governor I know of who seems to have put some real political capital into trying to make it possible to make schools that kids can walk to.
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
My contribution to the Mark Sanford discourse is that he’s the only governor I know of who seems to have put some real political capital into trying to make it possible to make schools that kids can walk to.
Interesting finding here from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social that downtown Chicago is one of the only areas of the city adding kids, due to being one of the only areas that's adding housing.
How can we improve urban housing to support families? In a new post, I look at downtown Chicago. Despite building little family-friendly housing, it's been among the city's fastest-growing areas for families.
That's owed to broadly building more housing.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
That's owed to broadly building more housing.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
Chicago's downtown family boom
And what it can tell us about building family-friendly cities
pencillingout.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Interesting finding here from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social that downtown Chicago is one of the only areas of the city adding kids, due to being one of the only areas that's adding housing.
Holy cow, in one day our house went from two balance bike riders to two pedal bike riders and one who is almost getting the hang of a balance bike
November 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Holy cow, in one day our house went from two balance bike riders to two pedal bike riders and one who is almost getting the hang of a balance bike
I recently rewatched the Wolf of Wall Street and holy cow... it's 180 minutes! Who has the time?? And it would have been funnier if it was cut by at least a third imo
We watched — and enjoyed — del Toro’s “Frankenstein” last night. But I’m not sure that it does enough to justify a runtime longer than James Whale’s 1931 adaptation and sequel combined.
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I recently rewatched the Wolf of Wall Street and holy cow... it's 180 minutes! Who has the time?? And it would have been funnier if it was cut by at least a third imo
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
The Fed must set different interest rates in Spokane
Spokane has been killing it with housing reforms:
eliminating parking minimums near transit
increasing height maximums
Reducing lot minimums
THE RESULTS? The proof is in the puddin':
eliminating parking minimums near transit
increasing height maximums
Reducing lot minimums
THE RESULTS? The proof is in the puddin':
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The Fed must set different interest rates in Spokane
"We’ve lived all our lives in the Great World 2 Afterparty, and now that party is over." www.noahpinion.blog/p/the-great-...
The Great World War 2 Afterparty is over
Our ancestors bought us eighty years of peace, institutional effectiveness, and moral clarity. But nothing lasts forever.
www.noahpinion.blog
November 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"We’ve lived all our lives in the Great World 2 Afterparty, and now that party is over." www.noahpinion.blog/p/the-great-...
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 AM
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
Pattern language
November 7, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Pattern language
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
Must-read think piece from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social on the connection intersection of housing and family formation.
"To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder"
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
"To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder"
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Must-read think piece from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social on the connection intersection of housing and family formation.
"To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder"
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
"To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder"
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
In the 2000s, a proto-YIMBY bill would have prevented Texas localities from mandating HOAs in new subdivisions.
From Beyond Privateopia
From Beyond Privateopia
November 3, 2025 at 1:46 AM
In the 2000s, a proto-YIMBY bill would have prevented Texas localities from mandating HOAs in new subdivisions.
From Beyond Privateopia
From Beyond Privateopia
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
Kind of unexpected chart from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social: In the US, the ratio of 3 and 4-bedroom housing units to households has actually grown quite a bit in the fast few decades! You hear a lot about a shortage of family housing, but this suggests the opposite?
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
November 2, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Kind of unexpected chart from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social: In the US, the ratio of 3 and 4-bedroom housing units to households has actually grown quite a bit in the fast few decades! You hear a lot about a shortage of family housing, but this suggests the opposite?
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
Thanks Bobby! I'm sure there are neighborhoods where your approach is badly needed and Baby Maybe units make more sense than the marginal studio/one-bedroom.
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
October 31, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Thanks Bobby! I'm sure there are neighborhoods where your approach is badly needed and Baby Maybe units make more sense than the marginal studio/one-bedroom.
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
This is another excellent piece from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social. I don't think I would've predicted how much we are overbuilding large bedroom housing to smaller housing even as household size shift and everyone complains "we don't need more luxury studios." It does in fact look like we need more.
October 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This is another excellent piece from @ebwhamilton.bsky.social. I don't think I would've predicted how much we are overbuilding large bedroom housing to smaller housing even as household size shift and everyone complains "we don't need more luxury studios." It does in fact look like we need more.
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
Reposted by Emily Hamilton
American zoning law, and downzoning
Thanks to Jason Sorens for reviewing @charlescgardner.bsky.social’s and my new law review article on protections against downzoning: jasonsorens.substack.com/p/regulatory...
Regulatory Takings Compensation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come (Again)?
My review of the new Hamilton & Gardner paper on state laws in Arizona, Florida, and Oregon
jasonsorens.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
American zoning law, and downzoning