U.S. senior housing occupancy increased for the second consecutive quarter and rose to 81.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, a 1.0 percentage point increase from the third quarter and a 2.3 percentage point increase from a pandemic-related low of 78.7 percent in the second quarter, according to data from 31 metropolitan markets covered by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care.

As we close the books on the year, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Landonline in the past year. Here are the top five most popular articles from 2021.

A broad range of stakeholders representing renter households and property owners agree that proactive efforts are necessary to protect the security of renters and allow property owners/managers to viably steward and operate their properties, according to a new ULI report. Stable Residents, Stable Propertiesconcludes that finding common ground among stakeholders in the rental market is critical to creating sound housing policy as the United States struggles to improve resident stability amid a nationwide housing shortage and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sonoma County, California, can enhance its ability to withstand and recover from wildfires by re-envisioning its land use, energy, and housing policies through a cooperative and equity-focused framework, according to a report released today by ULI. The report is based on recommendations from a panel of land-use and resilience experts convened in April through ULI’s Virtual Advisory Services panel offering.

ULI Chicago, with support from the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, is in the process of conducting two Technical Assistance Panels as part of the City of Chicago’s Central City recovery planning efforts. In partnership with DPD and The Magnificent Mile Association, ULI Chicago convened a multi-disciplinary panel of real estate development experts to develop recommendations for redevelopment in the City of Chicago’s downtown.

U.S. hotel performance came in higher than any other Thanksgiving week on record, according to STR’s data through November 27. Among the top 25 markets, Dallas saw the largest occupancy increase over 2019.

The economic recovery in Washington, D.C., continued through the close of the third quarter of 2021. Office leasing activity is ongoing, though at a slower pace than years past, while asking rents are rising (up 2.1 percent from 2020 according to Newmark). The overall D.C. vacancy rate is just over 18 percent, according to CBRE.

A recent ULI webinar provided an overview of U.S. infrastructure spending and the details of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Then the panelists discussed projects in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C., that demonstrate how infrastructure investment supports equitable and desirable development.

A focus on technology, diversity, and the impact of the post-COVID world is key for the next generation of ULI Asia Pacific member leaders, said panelists at the ULI Asia Pacific RE Imagineevent. The second day of the virtual conference featured some of the brightest young leaders in real estate in the region, talking about their priorities, ambitions, and recipes for success.

Technology, cybernetics, and the importance of innovation were at the heart of the final day of ULI Asia Pacific’s RE Imaginevirtual conference. Keynote speaker Dr. Catherine Ball spoke about the importance of innovation and using systems-led thinking to build better cities and spaces.