Barbara Samuels
@bsamuels72.bsky.social
Unleashed, not retired. Fair Housing & Affordable Housing attorney. Orioles, Ravens true believer. WV mountains, Cape waters, but Baltimore is still home. Repost is not endorsement etc
Thank you. It should go w/o saying but needs to be said, over & over. Neither the market nor the gov’t have capacity to meet the full spectrum of housing needs & incomes.
Just a reminder. Just b/c new market-rate housing opens up units (good thing usually, if aren’t physically displacing low-cost units), including lower-cost units, 1) doesn’t mean that all those units will all go to low-income households; 2) doesn’t provide long-term, stable, deeply affordable units.
November 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Thank you. It should go w/o saying but needs to be said, over & over. Neither the market nor the gov’t have capacity to meet the full spectrum of housing needs & incomes.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
this plus CT's single stair reform = big housing wins
Great news! Connecticut governor Ned Lamont, a noted coward, has finally located his big-boy pants and signed the legislature's amazing, ambitious housing bill. Among other things, it nukes parking mandates!
Gov. Lamont signs much-debated CT affordable housing bill after vetoing previous version
The bill is Connecticut's most significant housing legislation in decades.
www.ctinsider.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
this plus CT's single stair reform = big housing wins
Since 1970, various forms of downzoning have dominated local land use policies. This study of Chicago finds “downzoning has contributed to reduced housing availability in high-demand neighborhoods, while reinforcing class and racial segregation.”
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 27, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Since 1970, various forms of downzoning have dominated local land use policies. This study of Chicago finds “downzoning has contributed to reduced housing availability in high-demand neighborhoods, while reinforcing class and racial segregation.”
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
NEW: “The strategy [building homes for millennials who hadn’t had kids yet] worked — until millennials aged out of it. As they now enter their 30s-40s & start having children, they’re ditching cities where the housing stock never caught up to their changing needs.”
Bad strategy. Design for kids.
Bad strategy. Design for kids.
Cities made a bet on millennials — but forgot one key thing
Can cities learn to love kids again?
www.vox.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:56 PM
NEW: “The strategy [building homes for millennials who hadn’t had kids yet] worked — until millennials aged out of it. As they now enter their 30s-40s & start having children, they’re ditching cities where the housing stock never caught up to their changing needs.”
Bad strategy. Design for kids.
Bad strategy. Design for kids.
Live pretentiously!
“A resort lifestyle awaits”
in 6BRs, 6.5 bathrooms & 6 garage bays, w/ pool, all on septic.
Close to Hunt Valley & I-83 yet outside the Baltimore Co URDL redline that makes it illegal to build modest housing while allowing 10,000 sq ft faux-Georgian estates.
redf.in/G73CMV
“A resort lifestyle awaits”
in 6BRs, 6.5 bathrooms & 6 garage bays, w/ pool, all on septic.
Close to Hunt Valley & I-83 yet outside the Baltimore Co URDL redline that makes it illegal to build modest housing while allowing 10,000 sq ft faux-Georgian estates.
redf.in/G73CMV
8 Glenberry Ct, Phoenix, MD 21131 - 6 beds/6.5 baths
(BRIGHT MLS) For Sale: 6 beds, 6.5 baths ∙ 10540 sq. ft. ∙ 8 Glenberry Ct, Phoenix, MD 21131 ∙ $1,850,000 ∙ MLS# MDBC2146640 ∙ Coming Soon: Live authentically. Stately Brick Manor Home set on 5.14 acr...
redf.in
November 27, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Live pretentiously!
“A resort lifestyle awaits”
in 6BRs, 6.5 bathrooms & 6 garage bays, w/ pool, all on septic.
Close to Hunt Valley & I-83 yet outside the Baltimore Co URDL redline that makes it illegal to build modest housing while allowing 10,000 sq ft faux-Georgian estates.
redf.in/G73CMV
“A resort lifestyle awaits”
in 6BRs, 6.5 bathrooms & 6 garage bays, w/ pool, all on septic.
Close to Hunt Valley & I-83 yet outside the Baltimore Co URDL redline that makes it illegal to build modest housing while allowing 10,000 sq ft faux-Georgian estates.
redf.in/G73CMV
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
Baltimore checking just behind Vegas and Miami. If you know, you know.
Bluesky: “Obviously the housing crisis is the only reason anyone would choose to live outside of NYC”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Baltimore checking just behind Vegas and Miami. If you know, you know.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
We don't built apartments for families.
Look at the distribution of units built in Bellevue, Washington. In buildings since 2010 with more than 20 units ... over 70% of new units are Studio or 1BRs, and less than 2% have 3+ bedrooms
Look at the distribution of units built in Bellevue, Washington. In buildings since 2010 with more than 20 units ... over 70% of new units are Studio or 1BRs, and less than 2% have 3+ bedrooms
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We don't built apartments for families.
Look at the distribution of units built in Bellevue, Washington. In buildings since 2010 with more than 20 units ... over 70% of new units are Studio or 1BRs, and less than 2% have 3+ bedrooms
Look at the distribution of units built in Bellevue, Washington. In buildings since 2010 with more than 20 units ... over 70% of new units are Studio or 1BRs, and less than 2% have 3+ bedrooms
Rents have been rising for all tenants, but study finds poorest renters are experiencing much more significant increases. From 2021 to 2025, unsubsidized Class C& D workforce housing rents increased at 2.2x rate of luxury rents.
pestakeholder.org/reports/the-...
pestakeholder.org/reports/the-...
The Poorest Renters, the Sharpest Increases: Examining the Rent Crisis in Workforce Housing
From 2021 to 2025, there was more than a 20% increase in rents at workforce housing apartments, the lowest-rent sector of market-rate housing.
pestakeholder.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Rents have been rising for all tenants, but study finds poorest renters are experiencing much more significant increases. From 2021 to 2025, unsubsidized Class C& D workforce housing rents increased at 2.2x rate of luxury rents.
pestakeholder.org/reports/the-...
pestakeholder.org/reports/the-...
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
This piece is as good as people say it is. A fierce critique of zoning, by the former executive director of the zoning office in Baltimore.
"Why I lost faith in zoning." tinyurl.com/5n8sh428 Baltimore’s former zoning board executive director, on why she supports @mayorbmscott.bsky.social bills to promote more density and multi-family housing in the city. [OP-ED]
Baltimore’s former zoning board director explains why she lost faith in zoning | Baltimore Brew
The mayor’s “Housing Options and Opportunity” legislation – including Bill 25-0066 – will go a long way toward fixing an unfair system. [OP-ED]
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
This piece is as good as people say it is. A fierce critique of zoning, by the former executive director of the zoning office in Baltimore.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
This article on public participation in land use/planning decision-making bears on the current Baltimore City debate about a broad-reaching residential zoning bill. In short, is more participation better than a clearer definition about the purpose of public participation?
@caseybanderson.bsky.social, a person who knows from public meetings, issues this treatise on why public meetings don't work and how they can work better
Opinion: The problem at public meetings isn't who shows up, but the roles that the people at public meetings are expected to play
November 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This article on public participation in land use/planning decision-making bears on the current Baltimore City debate about a broad-reaching residential zoning bill. In short, is more participation better than a clearer definition about the purpose of public participation?
Yes! Family sized housing must be about the families who are the backbone of cities, not just millenials as they mature.
‘Gov’t must change how they measure the success of publicly supported housing. Dont just focus on maximizing new units built—prioritize the # of bedrooms & people housed.’ 1/
‘Gov’t must change how they measure the success of publicly supported housing. Dont just focus on maximizing new units built—prioritize the # of bedrooms & people housed.’ 1/
November 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Yes! Family sized housing must be about the families who are the backbone of cities, not just millenials as they mature.
‘Gov’t must change how they measure the success of publicly supported housing. Dont just focus on maximizing new units built—prioritize the # of bedrooms & people housed.’ 1/
‘Gov’t must change how they measure the success of publicly supported housing. Dont just focus on maximizing new units built—prioritize the # of bedrooms & people housed.’ 1/
Residents of the older urban n-hoods of Baltimore Co subsidize the top 10% that live outside the URDL & the n-hoods inside the URDL zoned for low density.
Worse yet, because state law requires the City to provide water/sewer at cost to Baltimore Co, City customers subsidize suburban customers.
Worse yet, because state law requires the City to provide water/sewer at cost to Baltimore Co, City customers subsidize suburban customers.
WATCH: If you really STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown & all the urban parts of your city, please watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes helped by #UrbanThree & @StrongTowns.org. And then please SHARE it as much as possible. youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI
November 22, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Residents of the older urban n-hoods of Baltimore Co subsidize the top 10% that live outside the URDL & the n-hoods inside the URDL zoned for low density.
Worse yet, because state law requires the City to provide water/sewer at cost to Baltimore Co, City customers subsidize suburban customers.
Worse yet, because state law requires the City to provide water/sewer at cost to Baltimore Co, City customers subsidize suburban customers.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
The new HUD guidelines are cruel; designed to support an agenda, & harm vulnerable people while creating a pathway for grift. Walking back evidence-based Housing First & harm reduction policies in favor of psuedo-moralistic grandstanding is appalling & in some cases likely illegal. #StandUpFightBack
November 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The new HUD guidelines are cruel; designed to support an agenda, & harm vulnerable people while creating a pathway for grift. Walking back evidence-based Housing First & harm reduction policies in favor of psuedo-moralistic grandstanding is appalling & in some cases likely illegal. #StandUpFightBack
Look you can buy your own 8000 ft castle on septic in western Ellicott City. This is rural life outside the PFA growth boundary at its Smart Growth best!
redf.in/dnWJps
redf.in/dnWJps
12400 Triadelphia Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042 - 5 beds/5.5 baths
(BRIGHT MLS) For Sale: 5 beds, 5.5 baths ∙ 7961 sq. ft. ∙ 12400 Triadelphia Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042 ∙ $1,695,000 ∙ MLS# MDHW2061938 ∙ Coming Soon: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS HOUSE BEFORE THANKSGIVING...
redf.in
November 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Look you can buy your own 8000 ft castle on septic in western Ellicott City. This is rural life outside the PFA growth boundary at its Smart Growth best!
redf.in/dnWJps
redf.in/dnWJps
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
Republican Congressman Don Bacon:
“This sounds like 1938 Munich.”
“This sounds like 1938 Munich.”
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Republican Congressman Don Bacon:
“This sounds like 1938 Munich.”
“This sounds like 1938 Munich.”
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
"What do we want? Affordable housing!"
Ok, here's some subsidized, below market rate affordable housing!
"No, wait, not like that!"
😵💫
Ok, here's some subsidized, below market rate affordable housing!
"No, wait, not like that!"
😵💫
November 21, 2025 at 4:21 PM
"What do we want? Affordable housing!"
Ok, here's some subsidized, below market rate affordable housing!
"No, wait, not like that!"
😵💫
Ok, here's some subsidized, below market rate affordable housing!
"No, wait, not like that!"
😵💫
Its hard enough to overcome NIMBY resistance. Affordable Housing is not the place for architectural innovation or self-expression.
Ensuring facades and proportions fit in with the surrounding area wont eliminate NIMBY resistance, but it may avoid debates about ‘ugly’ or ‘beautiful’ buildings.
Ensuring facades and proportions fit in with the surrounding area wont eliminate NIMBY resistance, but it may avoid debates about ‘ugly’ or ‘beautiful’ buildings.
IDEAL CITIES – Even Dwell Magazine, the bastion of millennial modernism that exists specifically to publish modern houses, has begun to accept that traditional construction might have a proper place in our world, and specifically for affordable housing.
www.dwell.com/article/the-...
www.dwell.com/article/the-...
The Case for Old-Looking, New Affordable Housing
To the delight of fans of vernacular architecture, in historic neighborhoods from New England to the U.K., projects are being designed to seem like they’ve been there all along.
www.dwell.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Its hard enough to overcome NIMBY resistance. Affordable Housing is not the place for architectural innovation or self-expression.
Ensuring facades and proportions fit in with the surrounding area wont eliminate NIMBY resistance, but it may avoid debates about ‘ugly’ or ‘beautiful’ buildings.
Ensuring facades and proportions fit in with the surrounding area wont eliminate NIMBY resistance, but it may avoid debates about ‘ugly’ or ‘beautiful’ buildings.
Growth boundaries, exclusionary zoning & lack of sewers don’t stop building in western 1/2 of Howard & northern 2/3 of Baltimore Co. They just ensure it will be enclaves of $1+ million McMansions sprawled out on large lots. Instead of the attainable climate friendly housing we need.
redf.in/YLkWzZ
redf.in/YLkWzZ
6620 Brown Oak Ln Unit DEVONSHIRE, Highland, MD - 4 beds/2.5 baths
(BRIGHT MLS) For Sale: 4 beds, 2.5 baths ∙ 4016 sq. ft. ∙ 6620 Brown Oak Ln Unit DEVONSHIRE, Highland, MD 20777 ∙ $1,689,838 ∙ MLS# MDHW2041148 ∙ Welcome to Clarksville Crossing, a distinguished commu...
redf.in
November 21, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Growth boundaries, exclusionary zoning & lack of sewers don’t stop building in western 1/2 of Howard & northern 2/3 of Baltimore Co. They just ensure it will be enclaves of $1+ million McMansions sprawled out on large lots. Instead of the attainable climate friendly housing we need.
redf.in/YLkWzZ
redf.in/YLkWzZ
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
Man, when they created privatized Medicare Advantage (“Medicare Part C”), they must have looked at the subprime mortgage industry and said, “yeah, let’s do it like that.” Scammy marketing, targeting vulnerable old folks, low “teaser” prices, complex and deceptive products, it’s all there.
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Man, when they created privatized Medicare Advantage (“Medicare Part C”), they must have looked at the subprime mortgage industry and said, “yeah, let’s do it like that.” Scammy marketing, targeting vulnerable old folks, low “teaser” prices, complex and deceptive products, it’s all there.
The separate & unequal failure to provide buses to school long predates school choice. But like so many problems due to Maryland’s ongoing legacy of segregation we lacked political will to fix a supposedly “intractable problem.” Thanks go the Banner for tearing off the veil. Now its up to the state…
NEW: Thousands of Baltimore students can’t get to school on time because of unreliable transit.
The city's school choice system complicates creating a yellow bus network for all.
A new plan proves it can be done.
w/ @lizbowie.bsky.social & @ajv.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
The city's school choice system complicates creating a yellow bus network for all.
A new plan proves it can be done.
w/ @lizbowie.bsky.social & @ajv.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
School buses for every Baltimore student seemed impossible — until now
School transportation company HopSkipDrive used AI and a Banner analysis to map how yellow buses, vans and cars could get Baltimore students to school safely and on time for less than 5% of the distri...
www.thebanner.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The separate & unequal failure to provide buses to school long predates school choice. But like so many problems due to Maryland’s ongoing legacy of segregation we lacked political will to fix a supposedly “intractable problem.” Thanks go the Banner for tearing off the veil. Now its up to the state…
The YIMBY movement usually focuses on need for zoning reform in booming high tech cities & suburbs. But to overcome population loss, repurpose abandoned buildings, support amenities & build quality Affordable Housing, post-industrial, low growth cities also need to remove artificial zoning barriers.
Baltimore City might be entering its YIMBY era
Baltimore might be entering its YIMBY era
A suite of zoning changes is garnering steam in Baltimore City Council, despite impassioned pushback.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The YIMBY movement usually focuses on need for zoning reform in booming high tech cities & suburbs. But to overcome population loss, repurpose abandoned buildings, support amenities & build quality Affordable Housing, post-industrial, low growth cities also need to remove artificial zoning barriers.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
I say again. Beloved holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life is about affordable housing.
"Is it too much to ask that [the poor live, work, die] in a decent house, with a decent roof, and a couple of decent rooms?" - George Bailey
"Is it too much to ask that [the poor live, work, die] in a decent house, with a decent roof, and a couple of decent rooms?" - George Bailey
November 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I say again. Beloved holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life is about affordable housing.
"Is it too much to ask that [the poor live, work, die] in a decent house, with a decent roof, and a couple of decent rooms?" - George Bailey
"Is it too much to ask that [the poor live, work, die] in a decent house, with a decent roof, and a couple of decent rooms?" - George Bailey
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
Me on Trump's 50-year-mortgage scheme and all the other things he's done to make housing even less affordable: www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
Trump's 50-year-mortgage proposal is just the start of his housing problems
Letting homebuyers opt for a longer mortgage won’t make any homes cheaper.
www.ms.now
November 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Me on Trump's 50-year-mortgage scheme and all the other things he's done to make housing even less affordable: www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
The housing crisis gets framed as "NYC Mayor fails to build." But that's blaming the person with a leaky bucket when the neighbor is pouring out the rest of the water. Our suburban segregation doughnut suppresses supply to keep property values sky-high. That's the real villain.
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The housing crisis gets framed as "NYC Mayor fails to build." But that's blaming the person with a leaky bucket when the neighbor is pouring out the rest of the water. Our suburban segregation doughnut suppresses supply to keep property values sky-high. That's the real villain.
Reposted by Barbara Samuels
