Sara C. Bronin
@sarabronin.bsky.social
Mexican-American architect, attorney, GW Law professor, National Zoning Atlas founder, "Key to the City" author, preservationist, 7th-generation Texan, mother of 3. https://wwnorton.com/books/key-to-the-city
Story about the need for generational change in the First Congressional district: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/u...
Proud of @lukebronin.bsky.social (no relation... anymore!) for challenging the status quo & stepping up to represent his community.
Proud of @lukebronin.bsky.social (no relation... anymore!) for challenging the status quo & stepping up to represent his community.
Groups Back Larson Challenger, Calling for Generational Change
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Story about the need for generational change in the First Congressional district: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/u...
Proud of @lukebronin.bsky.social (no relation... anymore!) for challenging the status quo & stepping up to represent his community.
Proud of @lukebronin.bsky.social (no relation... anymore!) for challenging the status quo & stepping up to represent his community.
🚦🚕 New Essay in @yalelawjournal.bsky.social Forum: "Transportation Law's Congestion Problem," covering the NYC congestion pricing battle & encouraging law to facilitate local projects that reduce driving. 🚘🚊
Full "Cities & States at a Crossroads" Collection here: yalelawjournal.org/collection/c...
Full "Cities & States at a Crossroads" Collection here: yalelawjournal.org/collection/c...
Yale Law Journal
For over a century, the Yale Law Journal has been at the forefront of legal scholarship, sparking conversation and encouraging reflection among scholars and students, as well as practicing lawyers and...
yalelawjournal.org
January 20, 2026 at 6:43 PM
🚦🚕 New Essay in @yalelawjournal.bsky.social Forum: "Transportation Law's Congestion Problem," covering the NYC congestion pricing battle & encouraging law to facilitate local projects that reduce driving. 🚘🚊
Full "Cities & States at a Crossroads" Collection here: yalelawjournal.org/collection/c...
Full "Cities & States at a Crossroads" Collection here: yalelawjournal.org/collection/c...
The latest Design Now Podcast hosted by Duo Dickinson features Andres Duany, Yodan Rofe, and me on the intersection of design & community:
savedbydesign.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/d...
savedbydesign.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/d...
DESIGN: The Places We Live
GREAT PODCAST! There is political urgency in the Housing Crisis: There is academic fascination with Urban Design: There is popular cultural obsession with Community Building. But the basic directio…
savedbydesign.wordpress.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:38 PM
The latest Design Now Podcast hosted by Duo Dickinson features Andres Duany, Yodan Rofe, and me on the intersection of design & community:
savedbydesign.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/d...
savedbydesign.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/d...
I really enjoyed this conversation with two preservation friends about the importance of zoning to preservationists! Check out the full video in the link below:
At @historicnewengland.bsky.social's 2025 Summit, @sarabronin.bsky.social, Adrian Scott Fine, & Thompson Mayes brought into focus why zoning & historic preservation must be allies in tackling today’s housing crisis.
Watch their panel here:
summit.historicnewengland.org/archive/summ...
Watch their panel here:
summit.historicnewengland.org/archive/summ...
Finding Common Ground: Urban Planning, Zoning Reform, and the Future of Preservation
summit.historicnewengland.org
January 20, 2026 at 2:13 PM
I really enjoyed this conversation with two preservation friends about the importance of zoning to preservationists! Check out the full video in the link below:
How could I have missed that the comma after "see" in "See, e.g." is supposed to be italicized!? (In this official Bluebook example, blue = italicize.)
Hoping this was a recent change & I don't have to renounce every legal text I've ever written! They're filled with plain commas in this position...
Hoping this was a recent change & I don't have to renounce every legal text I've ever written! They're filled with plain commas in this position...
January 11, 2026 at 6:46 PM
How could I have missed that the comma after "see" in "See, e.g." is supposed to be italicized!? (In this official Bluebook example, blue = italicize.)
Hoping this was a recent change & I don't have to renounce every legal text I've ever written! They're filled with plain commas in this position...
Hoping this was a recent change & I don't have to renounce every legal text I've ever written! They're filled with plain commas in this position...
This "High-Impact" honor means a lot to the NZA team working to make zoning data accessible, accurate, & actionable. In 2026, our philanthropic priority is an engagement team to translate our data for advocates, policymakers, & the public.
🫶Consider supporting our work!: www.zoningatlas.org/donate
🫶Consider supporting our work!: www.zoningatlas.org/donate
December 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This "High-Impact" honor means a lot to the NZA team working to make zoning data accessible, accurate, & actionable. In 2026, our philanthropic priority is an engagement team to translate our data for advocates, policymakers, & the public.
🫶Consider supporting our work!: www.zoningatlas.org/donate
🫶Consider supporting our work!: www.zoningatlas.org/donate
I’ve attended a couple of these Lincoln Institute Journalists Fora. They've inspired us at the NZA to do a (virtual) media training in the new year to ensure reporters know how to use it. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, media can learn more about the NZA at www.zoningatlas.org/media!
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I’ve attended a couple of these Lincoln Institute Journalists Fora. They've inspired us at the NZA to do a (virtual) media training in the new year to ensure reporters know how to use it. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, media can learn more about the NZA at www.zoningatlas.org/media!
Now @abigailspanberger.com has a roadmap for fulfilling her campaign promises on housing. Last month, @zoningatlas.bsky.social released a statewide report & public map that documents VA zoning (www.zoningatlas.org/virginia). Read our op-ed in @pilotonline.com!:
www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/17/c...
www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/17/c...
Virginia Zoning Atlas — National Zoning Atlas
The Virginia Zoning Atlas is a project of the National Zoning Atlas, which aims to digitize, demystify, and democratize information about zoning conditions in more than 30,000 U.S. jurisdictions. The ...
www.zoningatlas.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Now @abigailspanberger.com has a roadmap for fulfilling her campaign promises on housing. Last month, @zoningatlas.bsky.social released a statewide report & public map that documents VA zoning (www.zoningatlas.org/virginia). Read our op-ed in @pilotonline.com!:
www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/17/c...
www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/17/c...
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
2. Key to the City - How Zoning Shapes our World by @sarabronin.bsky.social. bsky.app/profile/moda...
“For those skeptical about market demand for transit-oriented development, I recommend a visit to Disney World. An all-American kingdom of forty-three square miles, it's about the same size as San Francisco; moving over a million people a week with a sophisticated, multimodal transportation fleet."🧵
December 14, 2025 at 9:34 AM
2. Key to the City - How Zoning Shapes our World by @sarabronin.bsky.social. bsky.app/profile/moda...
Good urbanist books list!
If our cities are shaped by stories, then great books form the foundation of knowledge and inspiration needed to build more liveable, inclusive and prosperous places.
These are 24 titles we read this year that informed our approach to changing hearts, minds and streets. An #UrbanismBookClub thread.
These are 24 titles we read this year that informed our approach to changing hearts, minds and streets. An #UrbanismBookClub thread.
December 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Good urbanist books list!
Nolan's right: the right statewide reforms can work - & in some cases have been transformative.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social has revealed that state laws don't always hit the mark (e.g., overlooked barriers, lack of local compliance). But we shouldn't undercut the potential of statewide reforms.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social has revealed that state laws don't always hit the mark (e.g., overlooked barriers, lack of local compliance). But we shouldn't undercut the potential of statewide reforms.
This is completely off the mark. Everyone knows about the success of e.g. California state-level ADU and parking reforms, so I'll give another: Florida's state-level Live Local Act has probably facilitated around 100,000 new residential units in commercial areas by this point.
Statewide zoning reform isn’t producing the wins everyone expected. For example, state law can declare that small backyard cottages are legal. But unless cities can review them, permit them, and builders can finance them, legalization will remain largely symbolic.
December 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Nolan's right: the right statewide reforms can work - & in some cases have been transformative.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social has revealed that state laws don't always hit the mark (e.g., overlooked barriers, lack of local compliance). But we shouldn't undercut the potential of statewide reforms.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social has revealed that state laws don't always hit the mark (e.g., overlooked barriers, lack of local compliance). But we shouldn't undercut the potential of statewide reforms.
"Bronin challenges readers to think big when it comes to zoning reform. And it illuminates the beauty... possible in urban spaces... Key to the City stands as a powerful call for (thoughtful) action."
Kind review by @ezrarosser.bsky.social @jotwell.bsky.social!: property.jotwell.com/unlocking-dy...
Kind review by @ezrarosser.bsky.social @jotwell.bsky.social!: property.jotwell.com/unlocking-dy...
Unlocking Dynamic Growth - Property
Sara C. Bronin, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World (2024).Ezra RosserProfessor Sara Bronin’s book, Key to the City, pulls back the curtain on how urban zoning works. And through in-depth cit...
property.jotwell.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
"Bronin challenges readers to think big when it comes to zoning reform. And it illuminates the beauty... possible in urban spaces... Key to the City stands as a powerful call for (thoughtful) action."
Kind review by @ezrarosser.bsky.social @jotwell.bsky.social!: property.jotwell.com/unlocking-dy...
Kind review by @ezrarosser.bsky.social @jotwell.bsky.social!: property.jotwell.com/unlocking-dy...
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
And then there were FOUR 🎉🎉 Congratulations to Connecticut, which earlier this week became the 4th state to pass statewide Parking Reform in 2025: bsky.app/profile/ctpa...
Congratulations to IL on becoming the third state to pass state level Parking Reform in 2025!
We’ve still got CT & NC on the clock which would get us to 5 in one year! Amazing work by @parkingreform.org & many others 🙌🙌
We’ve still got CT & NC on the clock which would get us to 5 in one year! Amazing work by @parkingreform.org & many others 🙌🙌
Also contains parking reform! This is a preliminary map of Chicagoland based on the People Over Parking Act provision.
It would also apply downstate though!
It would also apply downstate though!
November 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
And then there were FOUR 🎉🎉 Congratulations to Connecticut, which earlier this week became the 4th state to pass statewide Parking Reform in 2025: bsky.app/profile/ctpa...
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
I spoke to @sarabronin.bsky.social about her book on zoning and how it affects us all. Have a listen!
DIY Democracy: Zoning: Key to the City and to Our Communities
I spoke with Professor Sara Bronin to learn about zoning: what is it, what is its purpose, and how does it work. Link to her book on bookshop: Link to her website tool to learn about zonin...
diydemocracy.libsyn.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I spoke to @sarabronin.bsky.social about her book on zoning and how it affects us all. Have a listen!
The NZA methodology is incredibly complex, and this post explains in (somewhat) plain English how we have decided (after years of discussion) to display areas with base districts and overlays:
Who wants to learn about slices? 🔪 No, not pizza slices.🍕 Zoning slices! 🤓
Let us explain.
🧵👇
Let us explain.
🧵👇
November 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The NZA methodology is incredibly complex, and this post explains in (somewhat) plain English how we have decided (after years of discussion) to display areas with base districts and overlays:
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
Very much worth your time!
VIRGINIANS! You voted for affordability - now make sure it happens via zoning reform. Check out "Zoning Report: Virginia," which analyzes 50,000 pages of zoning codes: www.zoningatlas.org/virginia. Check out how your town/region fares w/our Snapshots! And join our webinar Tuesday to chat live!
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Very much worth your time!
VIRGINIANS! You voted for affordability - now make sure it happens via zoning reform. Check out "Zoning Report: Virginia," which analyzes 50,000 pages of zoning codes: www.zoningatlas.org/virginia. Check out how your town/region fares w/our Snapshots! And join our webinar Tuesday to chat live!
November 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
VIRGINIANS! You voted for affordability - now make sure it happens via zoning reform. Check out "Zoning Report: Virginia," which analyzes 50,000 pages of zoning codes: www.zoningatlas.org/virginia. Check out how your town/region fares w/our Snapshots! And join our webinar Tuesday to chat live!
Interested in parking reform? Check this out - I'll be talking about Hartford (& a tiny bit about @zoningatlas.bsky.social's parking features):
A mini-symposium on parking — without the commute. Join us for a virtual panel series on Nov. 18 and connect with parking reform champions from across the country.
View the session schedule and register here www.its.ucla.edu/tri... #UCLATransportation100
View the session schedule and register here www.its.ucla.edu/tri... #UCLATransportation100
November 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Interested in parking reform? Check this out - I'll be talking about Hartford (& a tiny bit about @zoningatlas.bsky.social's parking features):
A long review of Key to the City just came out in New York Review of Books!: www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Reshaping the City | Samuel Stein
What does zoning reform have the power to change?
www.nybooks.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
A long review of Key to the City just came out in New York Review of Books!: www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Latest in the East Wing demolition saga - the President fires members of the Commission on Fine Arts. My comments for @npr.org's All Things Considered:
www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
White House fires entire commission that reviews designs for federal buildings
The White House has fired all six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the independent federal agency that reviews design plans for monuments, memorials, coins and federal buildings.
www.npr.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Latest in the East Wing demolition saga - the President fires members of the Commission on Fine Arts. My comments for @npr.org's All Things Considered:
www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
The East Wing demolition has raised alarms beyond the American preservation community: the world is watching. Today @abc-news.bsky.social (Australia) released "Is Trump allowed to demolish the White House's East Wing?" I'm at minute 14:00: www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Is Trump allowed to demolish the White House's East Wing? | Planet America
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The East Wing demolition has raised alarms beyond the American preservation community: the world is watching. Today @abc-news.bsky.social (Australia) released "Is Trump allowed to demolish the White House's East Wing?" I'm at minute 14:00: www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
The demolition of the White House East Wing is underway. Might there be a path to stop it through litigation? Thinking about it as we speak. 🤔 Regardless, Congress must strengthen oversight and close the White House loophole, so this never happens again.
Stay tuned as this develops.
Stay tuned as this develops.
The White House itself is exempt from a federal preservation law that requires reviews — and the East Wing is mostly demolished.
But I spoke with @sarabronin.bsky.social, who led a key watchdog agency under Biden + believes there's still a narrow, potential path to file suit and pause the project.
But I spoke with @sarabronin.bsky.social, who led a key watchdog agency under Biden + believes there's still a narrow, potential path to file suit and pause the project.
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The demolition of the White House East Wing is underway. Might there be a path to stop it through litigation? Thinking about it as we speak. 🤔 Regardless, Congress must strengthen oversight and close the White House loophole, so this never happens again.
Stay tuned as this develops.
Stay tuned as this develops.
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
Congratulations to @SaraBronin.bsky.social for winning the prestigious Heinz Award for her groundbreaking work on zoning reform - but the celebration comes with concern. Due to Governor Ned Lamont vetoing HB 5002, she voiced disappointment over the loss of a bill aimed at improving housing access...
October 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Congratulations to @SaraBronin.bsky.social for winning the prestigious Heinz Award for her groundbreaking work on zoning reform - but the celebration comes with concern. Due to Governor Ned Lamont vetoing HB 5002, she voiced disappointment over the loss of a bill aimed at improving housing access...
DC Book Talk: On 9/25 at noon, I'll be at @auwcl.bsky.social, hosted by property law professor @ezrarosser.bsky.social. I'll cover a few specific legal issues, & then branch out to organizing/advocacy, @zoningatlas.bsky.social, & probably policy/political topics too. Feel free to join us!
September 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
DC Book Talk: On 9/25 at noon, I'll be at @auwcl.bsky.social, hosted by property law professor @ezrarosser.bsky.social. I'll cover a few specific legal issues, & then branch out to organizing/advocacy, @zoningatlas.bsky.social, & probably policy/political topics too. Feel free to join us!
Reposted by Sara C. Bronin
THIS THURSDAY! Join us, @aura-atx.org, & @texansforhousing.bsky.social, 7 PM at Café Crème, to hear @sarabronin.bsky.social about discuss her book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World.
RSVP here — free to attend, but book purchase with ticket available: thelittlegayshop.com/products/urb...
RSVP here — free to attend, but book purchase with ticket available: thelittlegayshop.com/products/urb...
September 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
THIS THURSDAY! Join us, @aura-atx.org, & @texansforhousing.bsky.social, 7 PM at Café Crème, to hear @sarabronin.bsky.social about discuss her book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World.
RSVP here — free to attend, but book purchase with ticket available: thelittlegayshop.com/products/urb...
RSVP here — free to attend, but book purchase with ticket available: thelittlegayshop.com/products/urb...