Colas Construction’s Post

🏠 Major News for Urban Development! 🌟 Los Angeles is revolutionizing affordable housing with Mayor Karen Bass' game-changing executive order made in 2022. This innovative strategy has paved the way for hundreds of 100% affordable projects to emerge, all without relying on taxpayer dollars! Over the past year, the city's planning department has received proposals for over 16,150 affordable housing units. This figure surpasses the total number of approved affordable units in Los Angeles from 2020 to 2022 combined The key factor in this change comes from private developers who, traditionally focused on luxury properties, are now diving into the affordable housing sector. This shift not only addresses the pressing need for housing but also presents a lucrative opportunity for developers. As we see this inspiring development, I wonder: What other communities will follow suit?

🔔 Introducing The Ledger: June 2024 Edition 📢 As we move through 2024, the momentum behind affordable housing initiatives in Florida continues to grow, driven by the transformative Live Local Act (LLA). Leverage Live Local is excited to share the first edition of The Ledger- sharing with you the latest stories and insights we’ve put together on how LLA is reshaping the housing landscape for Florida’s workforce. 🌟 Featured Highlights This Month 🌟: 🏢 Laguna Gardens in Miami: Discover how this groundbreaking 37-story project is set to offer over 3,200 affordable residences, powered by LLA’s funding and strategic planning. 🏗️ Allora in Largo: Learn about Largo’s first workforce housing project, a collaborative effort by Belleair Development Group and Trammell Crow Residential. This initiative aims to address local housing challenges with a significant portion of units dedicated to workforce housing. 📜 Miami’s Updated LLA Guidelines: Miami leads the way with new local guidelines for LLA, providing clarity and incentives for developers. These guidelines could be a model for other Florida municipalities. 🏙️ Wynwood’s LLA Tower Challenges: Explore the community dynamics and opposition faced by the proposed 48-story LLA tower in Wynwood. The debate highlights the complexities of integrating new developments into existing neighborhoods. ⚖️ Legislative Updates: Recent enhancements to the LLA through SB 328 introduce new provisions to support mixed-income housing and offer flexibility for transit-oriented projects. 🌐 Read the Full June Edition of The Ledger on our website: https://lnkd.in/d_w_s-VT #AffordableHousing #LiveLocalAct #FloridaHousing #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #HousingInitiatives #TheLedger #LeverageLiveLocal

💡 “Putting affordable housing in high-resource zip codes has got to be a priority for developers across the country” - Donahue Peebles, III. As stated in a recent article by The Triangle Tribune Newspaper, Legacy Real Estate Development LLC, in partnership with F7 International Development led by James Montague and The Peebles Corporation, is spearheading a significant mixed-use project in Durham, North Carolina. The development will include 380 residential units, 92 of which are designated as affordable housing. These affordable units are designed to serve residents earning 30% and 60% of AMI, ensuring that more Durham residents have access to quality housing. More than 150,000 square feet of commercial and lab space, and 5,000 square feet of incubator space will be included as well. This collaboration emphasizes a commitment to community revitalization, while also advancing opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. The transformation of Durham’s old police headquarters focuses on both economic and cultural sustainability. This partnership is a step toward a more inclusive and equitable future for the Triangle. We are excited to see this transformative project come to life and to continue our mission of building strong, sustainable communities! #affordablehousing #realestate #sustainability #communitydevelopment https://lnkd.in/eXEyz_rw

Debate is growing in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood as a proposed high-density development sparks conversation about increasing affordable housing supply and adding child care, reported the Burnaby Now. "The site, located near the corner of 10th Avenue West and Tolmie Street, was home to a Safeway grocery store up until 2018. The lot has been used as a community garden for the last six years. Christina DeMarco, an urban planning instructor at Simon Fraser University speaking on behalf of the Friends of Point Grey Village neighbourhood association, said that residents have been waiting a long time for a new development on that lot." “This really important site could help the village. The main community focus is how can such a large, important site really enhance the village and the prosperity of businesses? We're very much for housing and especially affordable housing and, of course, we're delighted the grocery store will be replaced,” she said. “But we're finding a lot of deficiencies in the proposed development.” "One deficiency, according to DeMarco, is that the proposed development has higher density than what is mandated for areas with similar zoning, such as Fourth Avenue West, in the city’s Broadway Plan. The plan outlines development goals along the Broadway thoroughfare. On the other side of the debate is the Vancouver Area Neighbours Association, which supports the development." https://lnkd.in/gx4CdeCS #vancouver #development #mixeduse

As we gear up for the new year, I’m reflecting on just how monumental 2023 was for housing in Toronto and - most importantly - what our priorities must be in the months ahead. In the eight months I served as the Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, the City of Toronto legalized multi-tenant housing in all neighbourhoods, brought an end to exclusionary zoning by legalizing multiplexes, introduced a proposal to permit more low-rise apartments as-of-right on Major Streets, made building mid-rise more feasible with proposed changes to the angular plane requirements in our Urban Design Guidelines, and made changes to the Housing Now program which allowed us to finally break ground on the City’s first affordable housing site. In a city where it takes 3 ½ years to get housing approved, we also started to make changes to the approvals process and reduce the number of hoops we make folks jump through. The Development & Growth division is up and running, and working to accelerate the approval of new homes. In Fall of 2023, I held the first meeting of the Housing Action Roundtable which brings together experts from a variety of perspectives within the private and non-profit housing sectors. In response to early feedback, I moved a motion asking staff to see what studies can be removed from the list of 34+ documents we make builders provide to the City. That includes bringing an end to the practice of asking for parking studies in a city that’s removed parking minimums. As an early Christmas present, the City of Toronto also finally signed a deal with the federal Housing Accelerator Fund by agreeing to increase our ambitions. I’m proud of my work at Council to push us to do more, including making sixplexes and four-storeys legal across the city, prioritizing new homes over shadow, releasing pre-approved designs for missing middle housing, and studying BC’s approach to adding density around transit.  Despite the progress made in the last year, I know that the next few months will be critical to making lasting progress on our housing goals. I remain committed to advocating for practical solutions that make a real difference in the lives of Torontonains by unlocking more housing supply. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get more housing built in 2024. Let’s get to work - together 💪 #housing #housingaffordability HousingNowTO More Neighbours Toronto Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) David Wilkes RESCON Richard Lyall Toronto Region Board of Trade Toronto Regional Real Estate Board Ontario Real Estate Association Tim Hudak

Downtown Phoenix is experiencing a significant transformation, with fifteen residential buildings currently under construction, poised to introduce 3,589 new housing units in the coming years. This expansion is part of a broader initiative to accommodate the city's growth while maintaining accessibility and affordability. Notably, downtown Phoenix stands out for its commitment to affordable housing. Fourteen of the existing buildings are dedicated entirely to affordable housing developments. Additionally, five of the new constructions will reserve 5 to 13% of their units for workforce housing. This strategic inclusion underscores downtown’s role as a leader in providing affordable living options in Phoenix, making it one of the areas with the highest concentrations of affordable housing communities in the city. At A New Leaf, we recognize the importance of such developments in ensuring that all community members have access to safe, affordable housing. These initiatives align closely with our mission to support and uplift those in need by providing crucial services and advocacy. We continue to advocate for and support measures that promote affordability as essential to the well-being and stability of our community. https://lnkd.in/gA7Ci9Gn

There’s lots on during Fremantle Design Week. I’m especially looking forward to this launch of Fremantle’s first Community Land Trust (CLT), a new approach to addressing the housing affordability crisis. Community Land Trusts (CLTs), a concept that originated in the U.S. in the 1960s, offer a solution by removing homes from the speculative market. They tie the value of homes to local median incomes, ensuring housing remains affordable. Unlike traditional models, CLTs treat housing as a right, with the land held for long-term community benefit. Homeowners hold long-term leases while the land remains in community ownership. CLTs have successfully transformed housing around the world, and Fremantle is now joining this global movement. https://lnkd.in/ga6y5bBZ

Everett has become a housing boomtown in the past decade. I decided to take a closer look to see what's driving that growth. Proximity to Boston, large swaths of industrial land coming up for sale, or favorable city policies? Turns out, it's all three. But there is a downside: Most of the new housing isn't affordable for Everett residents. And then there's all that traffic! https://lnkd.in/eH_NvgT7

Modernized affordable housing is crucial to ensuring vibrant diversified communities. This article in Metropolis Magazine by Sam Lubell captures the importance of the redevelopment of Jordan Downs in Watts.

The Adams administration unveiled the draft version of its ambitious housing plan, dubbed "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity," which aims to tackle New York City's persistent housing crisis. Mayor Adams initially introduced the plan in September with the goal of generating 100,000 new apartments over the next decade by streamlining zoning regulations to facilitate housing development in every neighborhood. The plan, titled "Zoning for Housing Opportunity," encompasses various strategies, including permitting accessory dwelling units, eliminating parking mandates, and simplifying the conversion of office buildings into residential units. The released 800-page annotated text offered detailed insights into affordability requirements, a crucial aspect of the proposal. Notably, one key provision allows buildings to exceed normal size limits by 20% if the additional space is designated for permanent affordability. This initiative, known as "Universal Affordability Preference" (UAP), targets units affordable to individuals earning 60% of the area median income (AMI), translating to monthly rents of $1,272 for studios and $1,906 for two-bedroom apartments. Moreover, the plan introduces flexibility by allowing the utilization of the "deep affordability" option of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) independently, without being paired with higher AMI levels. Rachel Fee, executive director of the New York Housing Conference, praised the city's approach, emphasizing the significance of affordable housing at levels that meet the needs of New Yorkers. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams echoed the sentiment, applauding the emphasis on deeper affordability in the plan's revised text. However, the proposal has elicited mixed reactions, with pro-development groups endorsing it while some communities and advocates remain skeptical, expressing concerns about its effectiveness in addressing the housing crisis. Meanwhile, the plan is undergoing an environmental review and will subsequently undergo the city's extensive land use process. It represents the final component of the "City of Yes" zoning changes, following earlier legislative milestones, with the second phase awaiting a final City Council vote. Concurrently, state lawmakers in Albany are deliberating on broader housing initiatives, highlighting the ongoing efforts to tackle New York City's complex housing challenges. #NYCHousing #AffordableHousing #ZoningReform #UrbanDevelopment #CityOfYes #HousingCrisis #NewYorkCity #ZoningForHousingOpportunity https://lnkd.in/eXa5Ma_j