Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson

Journalist/writer/storyteller

Richard Lawson is an award-winning journalist on housing and adaptive reuse.

Unlikely Allies In Fight To Build: Polis, DeSantis, Abbott, Newsom

Policy

Unlikely Allies In Fight To Build: Polis, DeSantis, Abbott, Newsom

Governors across the political spectrum are finished waiting for local governments to fix America’s housing crisis. From Colorado to Florida to California to Texas, state leaders brandish hardline tactics—tying funding and overriding local authority—to accelerate new home development.

Los Angeles Pushes Back on California Density Mandate

Policy

Los Angeles Pushes Back on California Density Mandate

An 8–5 L.A. City Council vote rejects SB 79, siding with local control over state-driven density near transit. The clash with Sacramento underscores the tension between neighborhood character and California’s urgent housing needs.

Cushman Warns Cities: Convert Offices Or Face Growing Crisis

Capital

Cushman Warns Cities: Convert Offices Or Face Growing Crisis

Downtowns overweighted in office space face falling values and shrinking tax bases. Swift conversions to housing and mixed-use are essential to prevent fiscal and social decline.

Los Angeles Halts SB 9 Light-Density Housing in Fire Zones

Policy

Los Angeles Halts SB 9 Light-Density Housing in Fire Zones

Los Angeles’ emergency order blocks Senate Bill 9 lot-splits in fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, restoring the single-family pattern that existed before the January inferno. The move underscores tensions between state housing law and local disaster realities.

Indigo in Fort Bend: A Model for Smart Density And Market Alignment

Policy

Indigo in Fort Bend: A Model for Smart Density And Market Alignment

Ahead of state reform, Indigo demonstrates how planning, education, and balance can deliver affordability. Cottages under $300,000 are selling out fast—proof that zoning alignment and collaboration work.

Unlikely Allies In Fight To Build: Polis, DeSantis, Abbott, Newsom

Policy

Unlikely Allies In Fight To Build: Polis, DeSantis, Abbott, Newsom

Governors across the political spectrum are finished waiting for local governments to fix America’s housing crisis. From Colorado to Florida to California to Texas, state leaders brandish hardline tactics—tying funding and overriding local authority—to accelerate new home development.

Los Angeles Pushes Back on California Density Mandate

Policy

Los Angeles Pushes Back on California Density Mandate

An 8–5 L.A. City Council vote rejects SB 79, siding with local control over state-driven density near transit. The clash with Sacramento underscores the tension between neighborhood character and California’s urgent housing needs.

Cushman Warns Cities: Convert Offices Or Face Growing Crisis

Capital

Cushman Warns Cities: Convert Offices Or Face Growing Crisis

Downtowns overweighted in office space face falling values and shrinking tax bases. Swift conversions to housing and mixed-use are essential to prevent fiscal and social decline.

Los Angeles Halts SB 9 Light-Density Housing in Fire Zones

Policy

Los Angeles Halts SB 9 Light-Density Housing in Fire Zones

Los Angeles’ emergency order blocks Senate Bill 9 lot-splits in fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, restoring the single-family pattern that existed before the January inferno. The move underscores tensions between state housing law and local disaster realities.

Indigo in Fort Bend: A Model for Smart Density And Market Alignment

Policy

Indigo in Fort Bend: A Model for Smart Density And Market Alignment

Ahead of state reform, Indigo demonstrates how planning, education, and balance can deliver affordability. Cottages under $300,000 are selling out fast—proof that zoning alignment and collaboration work.