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July 31, 2026

How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning. Plus, the Downsides of Living Near Yale

City Cast YCCBB

How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning. Plus, the Downsides of Living Near Yale

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Do you know how zoning laws affect your city’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it physically impossible to build tall buildings downtown, even for housing — that is, until the local government finally aligned to overturn it. City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with Eli Sabin, a New Haven native and one of the alders (aka city council members) responsible for passing this change in recent months. Eli spent years working toward this goal, and he talks with David about what now needs to happen to fully realize its potential and increase affordability for locals.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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