Preparedness in cities and other urban settlements is critical for effective local, regional, national and global responses to COVID-19. A well-designed pandemic plan in urban settlements allows to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and to refine your response as needed. Education, housing, work, socializing and community kinship shapes the way we live, strive and thrive in cities. Population density is not the only parameter to be blamed for the pandemic in developing countries. The type of housing - township, apartments, independent houses, make shift homes, informal settlements, redevelopment buildings and slums also are a key parameter that hinders controlling the spread or transmission of outbreak. The way we live – sanitation, hygiene, food habits, our environment, transport, connectivity, our social outlook and approach also are detrimental and have a direct bearing for the outbreak to spread to the extent of being a pandemic.

1. 2020
Steering towards safe and secure progress for Real Estate Developers
Putting Public Health into Housing and
Town Planning – Opportunity Amidst Challenge
for Real Estate Sector in Wake of COVID -19
Pandemic
Eco Endeavourers Network
Striving for the Planet in Peril
Dr. Prachi Ugle Pimpalkhute,
Founder, Eco Endeavourers Network
Sachin Pimpalkhute,
Co-Founder, Eco Endeavourers Network
Email : prachiugle@gmail.com
Contact Number: 9819098068

2. Introduction
Preparedness in cities and other urban settlements is critical for effective local, regional, national
and global responses to COVID-19. A well-designed pandemic plan in urban settlements allows to
respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and to refine your response as needed.
Education, housing, work, socializing and community kinship shapes the way we live, strive and
thrive in cities. Population density is not the only parameter to be blamed for the pandemic in
developing countries. The type of housing - township, apartments, independent houses, make shift
homes, informal settlements, redevelopment buildings and slums also are a key parameter that
hinders controlling the spread or transmission of outbreak. The way we live – sanitation, hygiene,
food habits, our environment, transport, connectivity, our social outlook and approach also are
detrimental and have a direct bearing for the outbreak to spread to the extent of being a pandemic.
If one looks at the positives, cities being hubs for advanced health care and treatment are a critical
health system management provider, so total lockdown along with the above mentioned
parameters should have by now stopped the surge of COVID 19 and the peak should have by now
flattened. However, that has not happened and the notion that high population density of the
county is the key for non-containment of the outbreak is being taken as a base for its surge.
Governance, policy making responsibilities, multisector approach are the key essentials for
medical emergency preparedness planning and management – which starts from preparedness,
to response and to recovery from COVID 19. Critical competencies for urban planning, design and
built environment towards futuristic housing and town planning should include: individual
resilience, whole of government approach, a whole of society approach and multi-sectoral
approach with three main ingredients for non-containment – Alert, Standby and Activate. Alert
includes notification of critical systems and personnel of their impending activation, standby
includes initiation of decision-making processes for imminent activation, including mobilization
of resources and personnel, and Activate refers to implementation of the specified pandemic
mitigation measures. Alert, Standby and Activate are a key non-pharmaceutical interventions
(NPI).
Pandemic preparedness planning, response and recovery is everyone’s responsibility and each
one has a role to steer through good health, economic progress and wellness.
Questions and Myths that needs to be answered and busted:
 Nothing can be done to prevent pandemics.
 We can deal with it when it comes. There is no risk.
 Do you want to generate fear, panic and anxiety among people?
 Health officials, health care systems and management will protect us from pandemics?
 Pandemic risk is not an economic concern?
 It’s only government and the authorities concerns responsibility?
“Why does the authorities want to wait till an epidemic escalates into a pandemic”?
Who bears the brunt of second and third order consequences?
Once the onset of outbreak happens, the first consequence being the disease. The second and third
order consequences include dismissal of students from schools may lead to loss of interest among
children minding, physical inactivity and psychological issues. Subsequent workplace closings
leading to lossof income for employees, third-order consequencescould be detrimental to families
living at or near subsistence levels.

3. Who shall look into the initial pandemic shock to labour and consumers, not to capital…...?
What about the vulnerable?
Weak public authority and business climate in fragile and outbreak affected states could be
sharply eroded, worsening safety, security and population wellbeing, putting the poor to further
risks and also extremities among the middle class…so a common and applicable for all programme
for preparedness in urban planning should become a new normal for urban planning.
Vulnerable groups in urban settings in COVID-19 outbreaks:
 Informal settlements
 Urban poor
 Homeless and people living in inadequate housing conditions
 Refugees and migrants including labour markets
 Older persons, especially those at risk of isolation
 Persons with underlying medical conditions
 Socially marginalized groups
 Individuals at risk of interpersonal violence or self-inflicted harm due to physical distancing
measures
Examples of sectors that should be involved in COVID-19 preparedness in urban settings
 Health
 Social services / protection
 Mental health services
 Transport
 Housing and energy
 Education
 Communication
 Water, sanitation, hygiene
 Civil defence, security
 Commerce and economy
 Veterinary and animal health
 Banking
 Parliamentarians
This primer aims to put public health into housing and town planning as a case study to put
forward with the scope for coming up with opportunity amidst challenge for the real estate
sector in wake of COVID 19. Pandemic impact has eroded the business value and growth
prospects of real estate sector especially the residential and commercial market, making it
difficult to set right new prospects of development planning as investing overhang is looming
large for the urban planners, developers and real estate investors. There is slowdown in sales,
labour shortfall and low worker presence has stopped and delayed under construction
projects. Negative credit crunch and reduced sales velocity, impact on sales and marketing
team, reduction in occupancies due to migration to respective home towns. In 2016 and 2017,
regulatory changes brought on by RERA, real estate investment trusts (REIT) and GST regime,
long term contracts, steady cash flow and stable return levels positivity brought growth in real
estate sector. However, amidst medical emergency, a new normal for real estate sector is
considering pandemic preparedness an integral part of urban designing. Pandemics
preparedness in architecture is like remedy for building futuristic urban settlements.
Pandemics impacts in urban settlements are as follows:

4. Compact Community Benefits
Environmental Economic Social
Lesser land for roads
and parking
Cost saving on transport Lower casualty rates
Saving open spaces Lesser Congestion Residents are healthier and live longer
Emission Reductions More productivity and innovation Greater opportunities
Energy Savings Cost Savings on public services Improved livelihood opportunities for
marginalized people
Source: Pandemic Resilient Community Planning, based on the study by (Ewing and Hamidi 2015; Litman, 2019)
Community Planning Issues
Scale
Duration
Warning
Health care
Requirements
Infectious
Diseases
Physical fitness
Food and
Nutrition
Drug and Abuse
Safety
Economic
Development
Environmental
Protection
Democracy
and Public
Engagement
Public Health
Stronger
Public
Spending
Social Equity
and Economic
Opportunity
Evacuation
requirements
Economic
costs
Infrastructure
Damage
Very Large
Lasts longer
Long
Very Large
Large
Very Large
No

5. “Crowded housing increases contagion risks”
Time to have a set of guidelines, codes and enforcement machinery in place in housing sector:
Development of housing codes and the enforcement machinery becomes a key responsibility, of
urban planners, real estate developers and construction departments. As is the case currently, we
have green building codes, other building codes that are set to addresses limited concerns like
plumbing, sanitation, fittings, occupancy, spacing, fire safety. However, what is lacking in housing
codes is consideration of public health. Though green building codes mentions the importance of
health improvement due to its application, an advanced health system and pandemic preparedness
system is lacking. So, in lieu of the current pandemic situation, time is ripe to revamp the building
codes and include Pandemic preparedness and public health in building futuristic housing that shall
strengthen community preparedness, living and a healthy population to thrive and progress.
According to Housing.com, the housing sales in India’s nine major cities declined by 26 % in the
period between January – March 2020. In lieu of the current medical emergency and the
subsequent lockdown in wake of it, government has made it to trickle up with some incorporation
in RERA for a stipulated period. It includes: The RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)
guidelines have rendered an extension of one year in the execution timelines of the projects if the
event is beyond the control of the promoter. Therefore, reducing the regulatory risk in the
disruption of short-term projects. Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India
(CREDAI) released a statement in consideration to the crisis that industries are undergoing and
so the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs immediately sought the following policy relief:
 To extend the registration period by at least one year. Treat Covid-19 as ‘force majeure’
under RERA.
 The principal repayment and interest that are falling outstanding over the duration of the
next three months should be put off in real estate projects and instead of three months
should be recovered in the next nine months.
 The loans taken by the real estate developers should not be declared as Non-Performing
Assets (NPA) if they default on payment of principal amount and interest.
 The requirement of additional funds to be met on the same terms to meet the increase in
costs from financial institutions without any additional collateral.
As per ANAROCK Research, real estate contributed nearly 6% to India’s GDP in 2017. As per
the projected growth trends during the pre-COVID-19 phase, the sector’s contribution was
likely to rise to 13% of India’s GDP by 2025. Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder and Managing
Director of Hiranandani Group and President of Developers, NAREDCO, mentioned in
Bloomberg Quint that lockdown caused schedules of real estate projects to go haywire and the
relief of economic package for real estate projects under RERA getting an extension of six
months came at the right time.
If one looks at the literature review on COVID-19 Global Real Estate Implications Paper II, by JLL,
April, 2020, the following are the key points from the paper as stated by JLL: Real estate policy
Countries around the world have implemented changes to real estate policy in order to reduce
the burden on tenants and in some cases landlords:
 In the U.S., many decisions are made at the state and local level, and at least 34 states have
temporarily prohibited evictions. At the same time, the federal government issued a 120-
day moratorium on evictions from federally subsidized housing or from a property with a
federally backed mortgage loan. Major mortgage lenders, including Citigroup and JPMorgan

6. Chase, suspended mortgage payments. Some U.S. states have halted construction on all
projects unless essential, such as medical facilities.
 In Europe, several countries, including the U.K., Germany and France, have suspended
evictions. A number, like the U.K. and Italy, are providing temporary mortgage relief. In
various locations across Europe, commercial and residential tenants have been offered
mortgage and rent holidays. Some countries, such as France and Italy, have suspended
construction. Banks in Europe are being strongly encouraged to give forbearance and not
to foreclose on late payments, while governments have granted retailers tax relief.
 In parts of Asia, some landlords have offered temporary rental rebates and rent discounts.
Meanwhile, some countries, like Singapore, are considering legislation that would protect
commercial tenants who cannot pay rent for a period of six months.
Why the ramble with the numbers is slowing down real estate sector though relaxation
were announced?
Though relaxations were announced on payment and in considering COVID 19 as “force
majeure” under RERA, the downside slump and issues with regard to repo rate rebates has writ
large looming crunch situation among the construction companies and real estate developers.
Logical reason to attribute to this is as follows:
 Short term curbs /relaxations increase the risks of bigger losses, reduced investment
activity creates slowdown and renders valuation challenges and uncertainty, thereby
causing barriers to investors ability to appropriately price the risk.
 Supply chain risk
 Slow deployment of new capital to the asset class in the near term given recent volatility
in the public markets.
Opportunity Amidst Challenge for Real Estate Sector:
Pandemics and climate change have become the key elements that can bring about
transformation in the very way urban design and planning is perceived. Real estate investors and
developers have got an opportunity amidst challenge for including pandemic and climate change
in the current situation and aim for futuristic projects including it and not just considering
retrofits, building codes and plumbing as design element.
What’s the “New Normal in Real Estate Sector:
Most business sector, real estate sector and companies will not go back to the way it was before
the pandemic, but every sector will look forward to respond, and reinvent and re-establish
themselves to be more resilient, adapting their operational models to the “New Normal”. The
short-term impact for occupiers proved significant as their business-as-usual activities got
affected, however the future preparedness, planning, designing and implementation will require
restructuring and courage from investors, developers and construction managers and their
workforces. There shall be a need to determine the level of modification required to return to
business: prepare, redesign and fit-out workplaces ready enough to call employees back to the
office, combined with remote working capabilities and a robust approach. It shall just be not
about how to re-flourish back as soon as possible. Rather the opposite approach. It is first and
foremost about technology. What shall it take for to ‘re-entry’ facilities that were closed, bring
people back to work and return to a stable business activity? What functions must come back
when the ‘re-entry’ option is available and what kind of designing and framework shall be
planned during planning for future projects based on the lessons learnt from current crisis?

7. Real Positives of Real Estate – It being a Real Asset and major task is People Protection
 Safety, Good Health and Wellness – Shall remain top priority in future projects
 Full protection via sanitation and hygiene solutions
 Well visible and well trained sanitation staff will be crucial
 Control over managing density
 Plans and protocols on safe and secure commuting
 Efficient residents, employees and visitor screening solutions – which shall include
symptomatic and asymptomatic screening - plan and rules in community living
apartments, townships and estates – will help in preparedness planning and planned
emergency public health care system based on the current crisis of pandemic and lessons
learnt from it.
 Tracking and control measures using technology and management
 Healthy building measures
Key attribute with regard to housing:
Higher the density of occupants, higher shall be the operational risk of contagion. This will create
short-term risk for hotels, retail, select living assets and flex-office operators. The more
important the facility of creating newer design and plan and tenancy to revenue and business
operations, the lower shall be the risk. This shall favour data centres and critical logistics assets.
Despite ample liquidity in debt markets, lenders remaining in the phase of ‘volatility’ and are
increasingly shifting towards asset management of their existing portfolios. Another key point
for real estate sector is that it has risk-adjusted returns that are less correlated to other asset
classes, since portfolio diversification advantage of real estate investments gets emphasized in
periods of increased volatility in the equities and commodities markets.
Rising capital allocations to real estate: Amidst the current crisis, the relaxations being
announced i.e.; low interest rate environment and financial asset price volatility will support the
Challenges
Urban Setting Rural Setting
Crowded buildings and sidewalks Improper housing and road network,
fringe issues
Elevators Poor access to medical facilities
and public health resources
Public Transit Vulnerable population – physical
and social isolation and associated illness
Homelessness – for workers
from other cities
Inadequate housing, poverty and limited
employment opportunities
Opportunities
Targeted cleaning, sanitation
and hygiene
Improving public health services
Promote Physical distancing Targeted capacity building and housing
to isolated households
Promote walking and bicycling Improved access to essential services
Eliminate homelessness
and improve housing quality
Providing proper public health
care services and financial support to
the poor and employment opportunities
Newer building codes which
shall include public health as a
key element
Improved housing quality

8. case for portfolio diversification. This shall allow real estate better relative returns in
comparison to other asset classes, looks set to increase.
Smart Cities – With focus on Pandemic Preparedness
The current crisis of COVID 19 will prompt rethinking in urban design, increasing the imperative
to develop truly scalable smart city solutions, to put a much greater focus on public health and
safety, and to deliver greater investment in public health care and infrastructure in real estate
sector.
Mass usage and adaptation of remote-working technology during the current pandemic phase
will increase the pace and dependence on robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data –
this shall be the “New Normal” in future urban design and construction.
Short-term pullback expected in capital flows as uncertainty builds:
As per the research paper on global implications on real estate sector by COVID 19 by JLL the
following are the key points as stated by them: Over the short term, investment activity in global
commercial real estate is expected to slow. Restrictions and uncertainty around valuation is
limiting investors’ ability to perform due diligence, and it is more challenging to execute
transactions. Delayed launches and elongated transaction timelines are increasingly evident in
affected markets as city lockdowns, travel restrictions and social distancing had become common
place around the world. Technology continues to be used to connect parties and reduce some of
the barriers to productivity. Though, uncertainty of the duration of the pandemic and our
inability to flatten the curve of virus multiplication and also the inability to appropriately price
risk will maintain higher barriers to the normalization of capital flows in near future
For many households, the COVID-19 pandemic creates severe economic problems. Even before
this pandemic, many low- and moderate-income households suffered from excessive housing,
transportation and healthcare costs. This pandemic is causing large unemployment and business
losses that will reduce many household’s incomes. Although stimulus funds, unemployment
insurance, and bill deferment policies provide some relief, many households will need additional
short- and long-term solutions.
Affordability, Policies and Design Elements – Newer perspective and New Design Elements
– Best Possible Additives (as per Pandemic-Resilient Community Planning – Institute of
Transportation and Development Policy)
Affordability concerns most often focus on high housing costs, many, including occasional large
unexpected expenses. Also moderate-income households have difficulty in financial dealings -
housing loan, insurance or repair payments and need affordable mobility options.
Policies that increase affordability:
 Implementing eviction protection, rent moratoriums and deferrals, plus subsidies for at risk
households.
 Increasing most allowable densities and building heights, and allowing compact, missing
middle housing types (secondary houses, multi-plexes, townhouses and low-rise
apartments) in walkable urban neighbourhoods, particularly for corner or larger lots,
adjacent to parks, or on busier streets, as these locations minimize negative impact on
neighbours.
 Reduce development fees, approval requirements and inclusivity mandates for moderate-
priced infill housing, as these projects shall be most need during pandemics as it shall reduce

9. migration and allow safer homes during crisis which in turn shall reduce transmission and
spread of virus.
 Reduce or eliminate parking minimums and favour unbundling – good social distancing
option in parking lots.
 Improved active transport (walking and bicycling) and micro-mobility (electric scooters and
bicycles) through improved sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, complete streets policies,
traffic calming and street-scaping.
 Improved public transport services so that places tend to become less crowded, cleaner,
better ventilated and lesser delay in reach, through better design, increased cleaning,
dedicated bus lanes, all-door boarding, driver protection, and automated fare payments
system, and actions that shall improve convenience and comfort as well as reducing disease
transmission and risks.
 Implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) - Commute Trip Reduction
programs - includes policies and programs that encourage efficient travel behaviour.
 Support development of “walkable urban communities” along public transit corridors(also
known as Transit Oriented Development or TOD) – this shall allow in creating
neighbourhoods where residents and workers shall access common services and activities
without vehicle use.
As per the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy – (TOD) Transit-Oriented
Development, means integrated urban places designed to bring people, activities, buildings,
and public space together, with easy walking and cycling connection between them and near-
excellent transit service to the rest of the city. It means inclusive access for all to local and
citywide opportunities and resources by the most efficient and healthful combination of
mobility modes, at the lowest financial and environmental cost, and with the highest resilience
to disruptive events such as COVID 19 pandemic. Inclusive TOD is a necessary foundation for
long-term sustainability, equity, shared prosperity, and harmony in cities. A global shift from
urban sprawl to inclusive TOD is a key requirement. Multiple complex and interdependent
elements must be aligned and brought together. They range from infrastructure, street, and
building planning and design, to codes, regulation reform, health care and finance. Diverse
participants with different views and interests should be involved: decision and policy makers
from many institutions, professionals of various disciplines, developers and investors, tenants
and residents, people attached to urban, suburban lifestyles, fringe areas persons, people in
communities as stakeholders set to be transformed by redevelopment and densification, and
grassroots and civic organizations.
Policy Principles of Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
WALK:
Developing Neighbourhood that promote walking
Aim : The pedestrian realm is safe, active, comfortable, vibrant and accessible to all
CYCLE:
Prioritize cycling transport network
Aim : Cycling is safe, secure and complete.
CONNECT
Create dense networks of streets and paths
Aim : Walking, cycling and transport routes and network – short, direct and varied
TRANSIT
Locate development near high end public transport services
Aim: Frequent, fast, rapid and high quality transit reduces dependence on personal
transport, reducing emissions and saving fuel and time

10. MIX
Plan for Mixed Land Use, Income and Demographics
Aim: Opportunities and services within shorter distance, reduces time as people live and
work – get time to spend, avoid traffic congestion, more time with family, lesser exposure
to diseases as reduced travel time and shorter distance reduces the risk of
transmission/ contagion.
DENSIFY
Optimize Density and Maximize Transit Capacity and Capability
Aim: High residential and hob opportunities and densities support high quality transit
and local services and public space activity
COMPACT
Create regions /spaces with shorter transit commutes
Aim: Allows transit or steering through near areas with ease of convenience.
SHIFT
Increase mobility by regulating parking and road use
Aim: Replace minimum off-street parking requirements with parking maximums.
Price on street parking to manage demand
Adequate parking fees and reduction in overall supply of parking space
creates incentives / provisions for use of public transport, walking and cycling
Source: Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Pandemic Resilient Communities
Pandemics are one of many risks that communities face, and generally not the only critical health
concern as there are many other infectious diseases in latent phase which do prevail but having
the surge capacity or outbreak capacity to begin with, so it would be inefficient to implement
infectious disease reduction strategies that increase other health, economic, environmental
problems, for example, by reducing physical activity there may be increase in cardiovascular
disease, or increase in vehicle travel causing traffic casualties and emissions. In lieu of it,
household and communities can increase their resilience to pandemics by the following planning
checklists:
Pandemic Resilient Communities Planning and Designing Checklists
For Households For Communities
ForPandemicRisks–Reduction
1. Resources to sanitize personal
items, vehicles and homes, plus
face masks and gloves.
2. Home with adequate space,
home offices, natural light and
ventilation, and private outdoor
spaces such as a balcony, deck
or yard to provide comfort
for extended isolation.
3. Good communications resources,
including telephone,
internet service and computers
for socializing and e-commerce.
1.Good public health programs, particularly
infectious disease control and
smoking reduction.
2.Healthcare services able to handle surges.
3.Shared vehicle density restrictions,
cleaning and sanitizing, plus employee
and passenger hygiene.
4.Minimal homelessness or inadequate
housing.
5.Programs to address mental illness,
substance abuse, domestic violence,
and vulnerable resident supports.

11. 4.Gym and Fitness program,
including in-home exercise
and nearby walking and
bicycling.
6.Expanded pedestrian facilities to
prevent crowding, traffic calming
and road space reallocation.
ReductioninallRisks
1. Household emergency
plan, including emergency
contact information.
2. Emergency supplies, including
first aid equipment,
flashlights, mobile phone
and portable radio backup
power, and food for at least
two weeks.
3. A home in a relatively safe
location (out of floodplains
and fire interface) built
to withstand local risks such
as earthquakes, hurricanes,
plus, extreme heat and cold.
4. Comfortable shoes for walking
and a sturdy bicycle for riding.
5. Housing in a compact, walkable
and bikeable neighbourhood
where essential services
and activities are accessible
without a car.
6. Ways to reduce
household expenditures if
income declines.
7. Positive talks and interactions
with neighbours.
1. Emergency management with
trustworthy leadership,
reliable communications and
critical supplies.
2. Robust internet and telecommunications
networks, e-government, e-commerce,
and delivery services.
3. Restrictions on development in
high-risk areas such as floodplains
and fire interface.
4. Zoning codes and house retrofit
programs that ensure homes can
withstand local risks such as
earthquakes, and extreme weather, and
are energy efficient.
5. Compact, walkable and
bikeable neighbourhoods where
most essential services and activities can
be accessed without using an automobile.
6. Sufficient affordable housing to
serve demand.
7. Community cohesion, so that most residents
have positive interactions with
their neighbours.
8. Unemployment insurance and support
for lower income households.
Conclusion
The current pattern of pandemics and its extent of transmission necessitated lockdown,
controlling it shall require months of restricted travel and physical interaction, creating various
health, social and economic resolutions. To improve resilience, communities shall need
effective responses which shall include contagion control, safe access to and delivery of
essential goods and services, adequate housing, physical and mental support for isolated
people, and affordability of housing.
For steering towards safe and secure progress for urban planners, real estate developers, and
designers, construction projects should emphasize and be based on the above descriptive. For
their sector growth and success, it can be concluded that pandemics do not justify abandoning
cities. Although city residents are more exposed to infectious diseases, rural residents are more
likely to die if infected, and urban living provides good health and safety benefits making cities
significantly safer and healthier overall. Most people tend to assume that contagion risk
increases with density (the number of people per unit of land), but that is not necessarily true;
the risk is actually associated with crowding (the number of people within an enclosed space,
such as apartment, house, shanty homes, redevelopment buildings). Most infection risks are
associated with specific activities – long-distance travel, worksites, stores and social gatherings.

12. In order to reduce the stress of isolation, homes shall need adequate space, light and ventilation,
also houses with ground floor access shall have the least contagion exposure.
Another key concluding point is to increase resilience, households and communities should be
prepared with emergency management programs, develop robust and flexible infrastructure,
and favour affordable and resource-efficient housing and transportation options (Transit
Oriented Development). Many of these strategies shall provide economic, social and
environmental benefits, in addition to reducing pandemic risks.
Few of the Literature Showing Improvements in Health Due to Green Housing Interventions
Intervention Results Source
Special ventilation systems in new
homes
Significant improvements in throat
irritation, cough, fatigue, and irritation
Leech et al., 2004
Insulation of existing homes Significant improvements in self-rated
health and self-reported wheezing; fewer
sick days from school and work; fewer visits
to doctors and fewer hospital admissions for
respiratory conditions
Howden-Chapman et
al., 2007
Weatherization Improvement of adult general health score
and self-reported sinusitis, hypertension,
use of asthma rescue medication, and
overweight
Wilson et al., 2014
Green public housing Adults: Lower prevalence of angina, hay
fever, sinusitis; significantly better mental
health measures for sadness, nervousness,
restlessness, hopelessness, and “everything
being an effort”
Jacobs et al., 2014a
Children: Lower prevalence of hay fever,
headaches, and respiratory allergies; more
reporting excellent, very good, or good
health
Asthmatic children: Lower frequency of
symptoms, less difficulty staying asleep, less
use of prescription inhaler
Green housing rehabilitation Reduced cockroach, mouse, and dust mite
allergens; more adults reporting excellent,
very good, or good health
Jacobs et al., 2014b
“Breathe easy home” (BEH) More asthma-symptom-free days after 1
year in a BEH; decrease in proportion of
residents with urgent asthma-related
clinical visits in a 3-month period;
significant improvements in (FEV1) and
percent with well-controlled asthma, rescue
medication use, days with limited physical
activity due to asthma, nights with asthma
symptoms, and number of asthma attacks
Takaro et al., 2011

13. References :
1. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters: Strategies, Opportunities,
and Planning for Recovery.
2. Committee on Post-Disaster Recovery of a Community's Public Health, Medical, and Social
Services; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Institute of Medicine. Washington (DC): National
Academies Press (US); 2015 Sep 10. Copyright 2015 by the National Academy of Sciences.
All rights reserved. NCBI
3. APTA (2020), The COVID-19 Pandemic Public Transportation Responds: Safeguarding
Riders and Employees, American Public Transportation Association (www.apta.com) CNT
(2020), Urban Opportunity Agenda, Center for Neighborhood Technology (www.cnt.org).
EU (2020),
4. COVID-19: Guidelines on the progressive restoration of transport services and connectivity,
European Union. ITE (2020), COVID-19 Resources, Institute of Transportation Engineers
(www.ite.org).
5. Justin Fox (2020), “Density Isn’t Destiny in the Fight Against COVID-19,” Bloomberg News
(www.bloomberg.com); at https://bloom.bg/3ehxbui.
6. Thomas Fuller (2020), Coronavirus Outbreak Has America’s Homeless at Risk of ‘Disaster’,
New York Times 12 March; at www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/coronavirus-
homeless.html
7. Salim Furth (2020), Automobiles Seeded the Massive Coronavirus Epidemic in New York
City, Market Urbanism (https://marketurbanism.com); at https://bit.ly/2VwKhg1
8. Aaron Gordon (2020), It’s Easy, But Wrong, to Blame the Subway for the Coronavirus
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