Photo by Hans Drexler on Flickr.

Cheaper housing is doable, but it’s about way more than just construction costs, strict rules are killing Sydney’s night life, and a potential light rail line from Brooklyn to Queens. Check out what’s happening around the world in transportation, land use, and other related areas!

A house, on the cheap: Auburn architecture students have developed a house that costs $20k to build and that, by conventional standards, is very nice. But building costs are only one challenge to affordability; remaining hurdles include formidable zoning codes, trouble securing mortgages, and finding a knowledgable contractor. (Fast Company Co-Exist)

Say goodnight, Sydney: Regulations that restrict alcohol servings and bar hours in some key entertainment districts are killing Sydney’s night life. From 2012 to 2015, foot traffic dropped by 84%, and 42 businesses in the night life industry shut down. (Linked In Pulse)

Big Apple transit: New York City is considering a 16-mile light rail line that’d run between Queens and Brooklyn. The Mayor hopes that it will connect places on the waterfront but the idea is getting mixed reviews from residents and pundits. And those on Staten Island wonder when their time for investments will come. (New York Times)

Even on trains, voices carry: Thanks to new technology, it’s now less likely that a train operator or bus driver makes an announcement on a transit system, and more likely that it comes from a pre-recorded or even non-human voice. That can mean more consistency, but matters like pronunciation have left some riders unhappy. (Guardian Cities)

Consider the flip side:Do the usual anti-transit suspects make you want to pull your hair out? Jarrett Walker, the author of Human Transit, says its worth considering the good points they make even if they’re buried in bad ones. (Human Transit)

Alley cats: Hong Kong’s alleyways can be cluttered, messy, smelly… and beautiful. Cleaning them up, says photographer Michael Wolf, can lead to a feeling of “sterilization” that dismisses character and charm. (Smithsonian Magazine)

Quote of the week: “Soon enough, the park could be growing trees from trash and rats would no longer have a buffet of garbage to feast on every night.” - Cole Rosengren writing about a future in which vacuum tubes take our compost away. (Fusion)