Danny Tenenbaum
@dannytenenbaum.bsky.social
Former state legislator. Rider of almost every escalator in Montana. All about housing.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Today on Volts: Montana has suffered from a severe housing crisis. In response, over the last two sessions, the legislature passed a series of sweeping housing reforms, everything from legalizing ADUs and duplexes to getting rid of parking mandates. How did they do it? I talk with two leg leaders.
A closer look at Montana's housing "miracle"
Two Montana senators explain how they made housing reform work across party lines.
www.volts.wtf
July 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Today on Volts: Montana has suffered from a severe housing crisis. In response, over the last two sessions, the legislature passed a series of sweeping housing reforms, everything from legalizing ADUs and duplexes to getting rid of parking mandates. How did they do it? I talk with two leg leaders.
This is my ballot, but it’s also the objective truth—the top ten movies of the 21st century:
June 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This is my ballot, but it’s also the objective truth—the top ten movies of the 21st century:
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
One bit of urbanism that caught my imagination and I've always remembered:
Design a city that works for women -- where women can move freely & independently, without fear -- and you will have a city that works for everyone.
Design a city that works for women -- where women can move freely & independently, without fear -- and you will have a city that works for everyone.
this heat map study of gender differences of walking through urban environments at night is not surprising, but still sort of incredible to see
news.byu.edu/intellect/st...
news.byu.edu/intellect/st...
Study visually captures hard truth: Walking home at night is not the same for women
An eye-catching new BYU study shows just how different the experience of walking home at night is for women versus men.
news.byu.edu
June 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One bit of urbanism that caught my imagination and I've always remembered:
Design a city that works for women -- where women can move freely & independently, without fear -- and you will have a city that works for everyone.
Design a city that works for women -- where women can move freely & independently, without fear -- and you will have a city that works for everyone.
While GOP governors from Montana and Vermont sign groundbreaking pro-housing reforms into law, some Dem governors still ask "how high?" when wealthy NIMBYs say "jump!" Embarrassing. #mtpol
Gov. Lamont says he will *veto* HB 5002, the broad housing bill proponents say would boost affordable housing in the state.
He says he hopes to see an amended version in a special session this fall.
“Veto to me means we can do a lot better.”
He says he hopes to see an amended version in a special session this fall.
“Veto to me means we can do a lot better.”
June 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
While GOP governors from Montana and Vermont sign groundbreaking pro-housing reforms into law, some Dem governors still ask "how high?" when wealthy NIMBYs say "jump!" Embarrassing. #mtpol
Props to Rep. Troy Downing for teaming up with a small # of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to oppose this expensive, protectionist bill. #mtpol
HR2035
American Cargo for American Ships Act
🗳️ House vote PASSED on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Yeas: 187 D, 186 R
Nays: 12 R, 2 D
Not Voting: 23 D, 21 R
https://congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2035
#HR2035 #congress119 #house #democrat #congress
American Cargo for American Ships Act
🗳️ House vote PASSED on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Yeas: 187 D, 186 R
Nays: 12 R, 2 D
Not Voting: 23 D, 21 R
https://congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2035
#HR2035 #congress119 #house #democrat #congress
June 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Props to Rep. Troy Downing for teaming up with a small # of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to oppose this expensive, protectionist bill. #mtpol
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
An excellent essay that might make you think differently about the future worksinprogress.co/issue/making...
Making energy too cheap to meter - Works in Progress Magazine
The great slowdown began when we started rationing energy. Restarting progress means getting energy that is so abundant that it’s almost free.
worksinprogress.co
June 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
An excellent essay that might make you think differently about the future worksinprogress.co/issue/making...
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
In #Montana, lawmakers have built on last session's housing reforms (the so-called "Montana Miracle") with the passage of a slew of bills that pare back local parking minimums and height limits, while capping impact fees charged on new housing developments."
reason.com/2025/04/29/b...
reason.com/2025/04/29/b...
Back to basics
Plus: California zoning bill survives powerful lawmaker's economic illiteracy, Montana legislators pass simple, sweeping, supply-side housing reforms, and Washington passes rent control.
reason.com
May 5, 2025 at 12:07 AM
In #Montana, lawmakers have built on last session's housing reforms (the so-called "Montana Miracle") with the passage of a slew of bills that pare back local parking minimums and height limits, while capping impact fees charged on new housing developments."
reason.com/2025/04/29/b...
reason.com/2025/04/29/b...
Cruel and dumb. thepulp.org/missoulas-sp...
Missoula's spectrUM Discovery Area loses major funding source
The Trump administration's seemingly indiscriminate cuts reach Missoula's spectrUM Discovery Area, stripping the nonprofit science center of two $250,000 federal grants.
thepulp.org
April 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Cruel and dumb. thepulp.org/missoulas-sp...
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
THIS is how every single state should be tackling the housing crisis. This sort of action should be emulated everywhere. Montana is cooking, y'all.
Last week, Montana voted to:
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
Montana is leading the nation on pro-housing policy — but not by accident.
April 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
THIS is how every single state should be tackling the housing crisis. This sort of action should be emulated everywhere. Montana is cooking, y'all.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Bike lanes are one of very few government policies that gives people actual joy
Bike lanes are like by far the best ROI of any city project
Piles of research on why we should promote bike lanes, bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters
open.substack.com/pub/lloydalt...
open.substack.com/pub/lloydalt...
April 27, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Bike lanes are one of very few government policies that gives people actual joy
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Denver is building so many new apartments that vacancy rates reached a 16-year high and the average rent has fallen below levels seen two years ago, according to the Apartment Association of Metro Denver.
The average apartment rent in metro Denver fell to $1,819 in the first quarter.
The average apartment rent in metro Denver fell to $1,819 in the first quarter.
Metro Denver apartment market erases two years of rent increases
Developers continue to deliver so many new apartments that vacancy rates have reached a 16-year high.
www.denverpost.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Denver is building so many new apartments that vacancy rates reached a 16-year high and the average rent has fallen below levels seen two years ago, according to the Apartment Association of Metro Denver.
The average apartment rent in metro Denver fell to $1,819 in the first quarter.
The average apartment rent in metro Denver fell to $1,819 in the first quarter.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
More incredible housing policy from ... Montana.
Montana's Housing Miracle Strikes Twice | Sightline Institute
Bipartisan efforts won a string of bills for more homes, lower costs, and less red tape for Montanans—with lessons for other states.
www.sightline.org
April 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
More incredible housing policy from ... Montana.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Montana is leading the nation on pro-housing policy — but not by accident.
Montana's Housing Miracle Strikes Twice | Sightline Institute
Bipartisan efforts won a string of bills for more homes, lower costs, and less red tape for Montanans—with lessons for other states.
www.sightline.org
April 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Montana is leading the nation on pro-housing policy — but not by accident.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Last week, Montana voted to:
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
Montana is leading the nation on pro-housing policy — but not by accident.
Montana's Housing Miracle Strikes Twice | Sightline Institute
Bipartisan efforts won a string of bills for more homes, lower costs, and less red tape for Montanans—with lessons for other states.
www.sightline.org
April 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Last week, Montana voted to:
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
- legalize 6-story apartments on most commercial land
- sharply cut multifamily parking mandates
- limit excess impact fees
- cut condo defect liability
- require equal treatment for manufactured homes
- legalize single-stair buildings up to 6 stories statewide
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
In both 2023 and 2025, Montana and Washington state showed that red and blue states alike can aggressively tackle America's nationwide housing shortage through bipartisan coalitions and a firm commitment to solving the problem through proven best practices.
The rest of the country should take heed.
The rest of the country should take heed.
April 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
In both 2023 and 2025, Montana and Washington state showed that red and blue states alike can aggressively tackle America's nationwide housing shortage through bipartisan coalitions and a firm commitment to solving the problem through proven best practices.
The rest of the country should take heed.
The rest of the country should take heed.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Building housing is good.
San Antonio rents continue to drop as new apartments open and vacancy rises. www.connectcre.com/stories/san-...
San Antonio Apartment Surplus Spawns Generous Concessions - Connect CRE
San Antonio apartment owners are brawling with a glut of units. When that happens, concessions are not far behind. According to MRI ApartmentData, San Antonio delivered 14,500 units in the past year, ...
www.connectcre.com
April 21, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Building housing is good.
Also:
- ADUs now legal in counties & cities
- no more local gov NIMBYism against manufactured housing
- Construction defect reform
- Requiring professional (not volunteer) review in historical preservation process
All with bipartisan support. Just a bad year to be a NIMBY in Montana. 😆
- ADUs now legal in counties & cities
- no more local gov NIMBYism against manufactured housing
- Construction defect reform
- Requiring professional (not volunteer) review in historical preservation process
All with bipartisan support. Just a bad year to be a NIMBY in Montana. 😆
Led by @shelterwf.bsky.social, a second wave of pro-housing bills just passed in Montana:
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
April 20, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Also:
- ADUs now legal in counties & cities
- no more local gov NIMBYism against manufactured housing
- Construction defect reform
- Requiring professional (not volunteer) review in historical preservation process
All with bipartisan support. Just a bad year to be a NIMBY in Montana. 😆
- ADUs now legal in counties & cities
- no more local gov NIMBYism against manufactured housing
- Construction defect reform
- Requiring professional (not volunteer) review in historical preservation process
All with bipartisan support. Just a bad year to be a NIMBY in Montana. 😆
Hard to overstate the impact of HB 492, which passed the Montana legislature yesterday without fanfare. Cities like Bozeman, Missoula, Helena and Whitefish now have until Oct 2026 to eliminate their costly off-street parking mandates. The “let’s study it some more” excuse is off the table. #mtpol
April 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Hard to overstate the impact of HB 492, which passed the Montana legislature yesterday without fanfare. Cities like Bozeman, Missoula, Helena and Whitefish now have until Oct 2026 to eliminate their costly off-street parking mandates. The “let’s study it some more” excuse is off the table. #mtpol
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
Led by @shelterwf.bsky.social, a second wave of pro-housing bills just passed in Montana:
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
April 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Led by @shelterwf.bsky.social, a second wave of pro-housing bills just passed in Montana:
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
- Legalized apartments up to 60 ft. in commercial zones
- Enacted major statewide parking reform
- Legalized single-stair up to 6 stories
- Capped impact fees increases.
It's another Montana Miracle!
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
New paper on Auckland finds that city's upzoning produced a big increase in government-supported housing development; this increase was actually larger than that of market-rate development.
Lends credence to the argument that zoning reform is a complement to public housing development strategies.
Lends credence to the argument that zoning reform is a complement to public housing development strategies.
Zoning reform and state-developed housing in Auckland
Zoning reform is often characterized as a market-enabling response to housing shortages and unaffordable housing. Regrettably this framing belies the potential for zoning reform to encourage state-...
www.tandfonline.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
New paper on Auckland finds that city's upzoning produced a big increase in government-supported housing development; this increase was actually larger than that of market-rate development.
Lends credence to the argument that zoning reform is a complement to public housing development strategies.
Lends credence to the argument that zoning reform is a complement to public housing development strategies.
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
“Our little town relies on tourism. And I can envision people using the train to get to our beautiful area.” Bill would appropriate $2M/year for Big Sky Rail Authority to support plan for passengers through Montana. @jordyhansen.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/03/27/e... #mtnews #mtpol #mtleg
Effort to bring increased passenger rail could get boost under new bill
House Bill 848 would create a “Big Sky Rail Account” within the state special revenue fund to help push passenger rail.
dailymontanan.com
March 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
“Our little town relies on tourism. And I can envision people using the train to get to our beautiful area.” Bill would appropriate $2M/year for Big Sky Rail Authority to support plan for passengers through Montana. @jordyhansen.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/03/27/e... #mtnews #mtpol #mtleg
Reposted by Danny Tenenbaum
New paper! Wildlife crossings are a win-win, protecting motorists and increasing wildlife resilience to climate change by reducing mortality and reconnecting habitats.
We review how crossings support adaptation and offer siting/design considerations to maximize benefits.
➡️ tinyurl.com/tt48caxk 🧪🌎
We review how crossings support adaptation and offer siting/design considerations to maximize benefits.
➡️ tinyurl.com/tt48caxk 🧪🌎
November 19, 2024 at 7:59 PM
New paper! Wildlife crossings are a win-win, protecting motorists and increasing wildlife resilience to climate change by reducing mortality and reconnecting habitats.
We review how crossings support adaptation and offer siting/design considerations to maximize benefits.
➡️ tinyurl.com/tt48caxk 🧪🌎
We review how crossings support adaptation and offer siting/design considerations to maximize benefits.
➡️ tinyurl.com/tt48caxk 🧪🌎