Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson

Journalist/writer/storyteller

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

Florida Escalates Fight For Workforce Housing Authority

Policy

Florida Escalates Fight For Workforce Housing Authority

The Sunshine State’s latest Live Local Act update strengthens zoning preemptions and adds legal muscle, at odds with city governments that invoke home rule protections to resist affordable housing mandates.

San Fran Plays Catch-Up In Bid To Reset Vacant Towers To Residential

Policy

San Fran Plays Catch-Up In Bid To Reset Vacant Towers To Residential

Having fallen behind other urban centers in initiatives to reignite downtown economic vibrancy, San Francisco ramps up its push to convert vacant office buildings into much-needed new high-rise living.

3rd-Party Options Gain Traction Battling Code Inspection Friction

Policy

3rd-Party Options Gain Traction Battling Code Inspection Friction

As homebuilders face elongated — costly — waits for essential build-cycle inspections, they turn increasingly to third-party inspections as a work-around to keep start-to-completion construction cycles on track.

Rebuilding After Fire: Can Hempcrete Help Future-Proof Homes?

Building Resilience

Rebuilding After Fire: Can Hempcrete Help Future-Proof Homes?

Los Angeles grapples with rebuilding after January’s devastating fires. One Idaho company thinks hemp-based materials could be the future of resilient home construction.

New Arkansas Zoning Strategy May Loosen NIMBY Chokehold

Policy

New Arkansas Zoning Strategy May Loosen NIMBY Chokehold

Arkansas has enacted a law allowing cities and counties to bypass traditional public hearings and legislative votes for zoning changes to streamline housing development and reduce NIMBY influence.

Florida Escalates Fight For Workforce Housing Authority

Policy

Florida Escalates Fight For Workforce Housing Authority

The Sunshine State’s latest Live Local Act update strengthens zoning preemptions and adds legal muscle, at odds with city governments that invoke home rule protections to resist affordable housing mandates.

San Fran Plays Catch-Up In Bid To Reset Vacant Towers To Residential

Policy

San Fran Plays Catch-Up In Bid To Reset Vacant Towers To Residential

Having fallen behind other urban centers in initiatives to reignite downtown economic vibrancy, San Francisco ramps up its push to convert vacant office buildings into much-needed new high-rise living.

3rd-Party Options Gain Traction Battling Code Inspection Friction

Policy

3rd-Party Options Gain Traction Battling Code Inspection Friction

As homebuilders face elongated — costly — waits for essential build-cycle inspections, they turn increasingly to third-party inspections as a work-around to keep start-to-completion construction cycles on track.

Rebuilding After Fire: Can Hempcrete Help Future-Proof Homes?

Building Resilience

Rebuilding After Fire: Can Hempcrete Help Future-Proof Homes?

Los Angeles grapples with rebuilding after January’s devastating fires. One Idaho company thinks hemp-based materials could be the future of resilient home construction.

New Arkansas Zoning Strategy May Loosen NIMBY Chokehold

Policy

New Arkansas Zoning Strategy May Loosen NIMBY Chokehold

Arkansas has enacted a law allowing cities and counties to bypass traditional public hearings and legislative votes for zoning changes to streamline housing development and reduce NIMBY influence.