Zak Yudhishthu is a PhD student in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying urban economics, public economics, and household finance, with a focus on housing markets and urban policy. https://zakyudhishthu.github.io/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:24:03 +0000 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:24:03 +0000 Jekyll v3.10.0 Research review and data analysis on whether adding small studio units helps open up larger homes for families through moving chains. Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/p/can-new-studio-apartments-open-more https://pencillingout.substack.com/p/can-new-studio-apartments-open-more Quantitative Chicago Family Housing Missing Middle Census data analysis examining family growth in downtown Chicago, housing unit composition by bedroom count, and demographic shifts in the urban core. Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/ https://pencillingout.substack.com/ Quantitative Chicago Neighborhood Change Data Visualization Data analysis of 900+ residential projects showing developers embrace low-parking housing. Examines Chicago's July 2025 parking reform ordinance and market demand for transit-oriented development. Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicago-has-a-market-for-parking https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicago-has-a-market-for-parking Quantitative Chicago Parking Zoning Reform Data Visualization Analysis of how Minneapolis has reached record household numbers, examining how housing needs are increasing even faster than population growth. Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2025/05/19/minneapolis-has-more-households/ https://streets.mn/2025/05/19/minneapolis-has-more-households/ Quantitative Twin Cities Neighborhood Change Data Visualization Examines the slowdown in Twin Cities housing construction, with steep permit declines in 2024 due to macroeconomic conditions. Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2025/02/14/minneapolis-housing-market-suffers-from-success/ https://streets.mn/2025/02/14/minneapolis-housing-market-suffers-from-success/ Quantitative Twin Cities Zoning Reform Analysis of population decline in Logan Square using Census data, examining deconversions, household size dynamics, and housing unit changes. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/ https://pencillingout.substack.com/ Quantitative Chicago Neighborhood Change Deconversions Neighborhood-level analysis of housing and demographic data in North Center, examining the relationship between family growth and housing supply changes. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/ https://pencillingout.substack.com/ Quantitative Chicago Deconversions Neighborhood Change Mapping and statistical analysis of building permits post-2040 Plan. Over 2.5 years of data shows 72 new duplexes and 37 triplexes built, representing 255 housing units. Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2023/10/24/mapping-minneapolis-duplexes-and-triplexes/ https://streets.mn/2023/10/24/mapping-minneapolis-duplexes-and-triplexes/ Quantitative Twin Cities Zoning Reform Missing Middle Data Visualization Early quantitative evaluation of Saint Paul's zoning reform implementation, examining permit data and development patterns. Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/ https://pencillingout.substack.com/ Quantitative Twin Cities Zoning Reform Parcel-level data analysis and visualization examining lot size distributions and zoning nonconformity across Minneapolis neighborhoods. Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/ https://streets.mn/ Quantitative Twin Cities Lot Size Data Visualization Argues that lowering Minneapolis's minimum lot size would make homeownership more affordable, drawing on evidence from cities that have already made the change. Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://pencillingout.substack.com/p/minneapolis-needs-to-reduce-minimum https://pencillingout.substack.com/p/minneapolis-needs-to-reduce-minimum Policy Twin Cities Lot Size Zoning Reform Co-authored with Alex Montero. Argues that allowing single-stair apartment buildings would unlock family-sized housing on Chicago's narrow lots, citing safety records from peer cities. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/small-lots-and-the-case-for-single https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/small-lots-and-the-case-for-single Policy Chicago Single Stair Zoning Reform Missing Middle Policy analysis of St. Paul's rent stabilization ordinance, examining how the 2021 ballot initiative and subsequent exemptions have affected development. Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/04/10/st-paul-needs-to-reform-its-rent-stabilization-policy-to-revive-development/ https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/04/10/st-paul-needs-to-reform-its-rent-stabilization-policy-to-revive-development/ Policy Twin Cities Rent Stabilization Zoning Reform Commentary on recent policy changes enabling new development in St. Paul, highlighting projects that would have been illegal just a few years ago. Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/02/st-paul-can-hang-its-hat-on-some-recent-development-successes/ https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/02/st-paul-can-hang-its-hat-on-some-recent-development-successes/ Policy Twin Cities Zoning Reform Missing Middle Assesses Minnesota's progressive accomplishments through the lens of abundance, arguing for a liberalism focused on building rather than restricting. Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/10/03/a-liberalism-that-builds-minnesota-needs-to-embrace-abundance/ https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/10/03/a-liberalism-that-builds-minnesota-needs-to-embrace-abundance/ Policy Twin Cities Zoning Reform Part 1 of a two-part series examining the economics of inclusionary zoning and who bears the costs of affordable housing mandates. Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2024/10/03/who-pays-for-inclusionary-zoning/ https://streets.mn/2024/10/03/who-pays-for-inclusionary-zoning/ Policy Twin Cities Inclusionary Zoning Part 2 of inclusionary zoning series. Policy evaluation of Minneapolis's requirements, examining implementation outcomes and design considerations. Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2024/10/16/assessing-minneapolis-inclusionary-zoning-policy/ https://streets.mn/2024/10/16/assessing-minneapolis-inclusionary-zoning-policy/ Policy Twin Cities Inclusionary Zoning Argues against deferring to local control on housing policy, examining how localism can obstruct needed housing development. Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/04/04/dont-trust-the-locals/ https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/04/04/dont-trust-the-locals/ Policy Twin Cities Zoning Reform Legislative analysis of HF4246, Minnesota's state-level zoning reform bill, including perspectives from testimony at the Legislature. Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://streets.mn/2024/02/29/zoning-reform-takes-positive-first-step/ https://streets.mn/2024/02/29/zoning-reform-takes-positive-first-step/ Policy Twin Cities Zoning Reform Analysis of Minneapolis and St. Paul's elimination of parking minimums, arguing this reform reduces construction costs and supports housing affordability. Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/08/31/ending-minimum-parking-requirements-was-a-policy-win-for-the-twin-cities/ https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/08/31/ending-minimum-parking-requirements-was-a-policy-win-for-the-twin-cities/ Policy Twin Cities Parking Zoning Reform