Dwayne Kavanagh’s Post

So much deep insight here at today’s #affordablehousing program! It’s all about getting in—and staying in—the weeds of housing supply and regulation opportunities, going beyond the sound bites to reach federal, state, and local budgets.

Learn about MD BEPS related to multifamily properties on 3/15 at 12pm.

I'll be presenting on MD BEPS for the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) during a webinar in March. We will discuss the energy requirements for multifamily buildings, including what we currently know, what's on the horizon, and what's still being decided. We'll explore the practical implications and share actionable steps you can take to ensure your portfolio is compliant and eligible for incentives before they expire. Buildings currently in design will be "existing buildings" some day soon, and they will also be subject to BEPS. This broad regulation will impact almost all buildings over 35,000 sqft in the state. Friday, March 15, 2024, 12-1:30pm: https://lnkd.in/e4ZQxGyC

See below our latest bulletin summarizing the new Bill 185: Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act.

As Inside Housing turned 40 last week, we are taking this opportunity to reflect on four decades of housing history, spanning housing scandals, policy changes, and tragedies that defined the sector.   Take a look down the housing sector's memory lane through the video below and discover some of the landmark moments for the sector in the past four decades.   Discover the in-depth timelines of each decade by subscribing to Inside Housing.   https://lnkd.in/empScYcQ   #Ukhousing #housinghistory #affordablehousing

It was fantastic to work with Sean Worth, Jade Azim, and Paul Chamberlain on this important if worrying report that was also featured in The Times last week. While Labour has committed to building and to targets, it is clear that these targets will need to be stretching and come alongside a wider long-term housing strategy to deliver the homes that are needed. #UKhousing #planningreform

The 1.2 million home challenge for the next government to deliver the places that are needed for people to live, with particular challenges in the South East, is set out in this superb but deeply concerning research that was developed by our team at SNG alongside Paul Chamberlain and supported by the members of CASE (a group of South East housing associations). We are continuing to build the homes people need, and SNG plans to deliver 25,000 homes over the next ten years, but our job would be far easier if we had a long-term plan for housing that included rent settlements, planning reform and improved access to land. #UKhousing #CASEforHousing #socialhousing #housingcrisis #ukhousing #GE24 Abri Group A2Dominion Group The Guinness Partnership L&Q Moat Homes Limited Metropolitan Thames Valley Paradigm Housing Group Southern Housing VIVID West Kent Housing Association You can read the research here: https://lnkd.in/esJYhAHV

After decades of failed housing policy decisions that have lead us to the edge of a cliff with our housing crisis in many parts of the country, my concern today is that the perspective from some leaders may be sit tight and wait for the effects of minor policy changes to play out to determine whether or not they have an impact. As we saw with major downzoning efforts in Massachusetts in the 70s, it took decades for the impacts of those decisions to fully play out. We’re not being nearly aggressive enough to counteract 50+ years of failed housing policy. We need to more aggressively investigate all the available policy levers we can pull from the state government side (including zoning, financing AND building codes, something we have not discussed much here in MA) and investigate creative private sector funding models that can better support more robust housing production in communities across Massachusetts, not just in the urban core. Decisions we make today need to address our regional housing crisis we all face in 2024, but ensure we're setting ourselves on a course for a more sustainable, equitable, abundant housing future for 2124.

Are you a land use professional and live in WAKEFIELD, WINCHESTER, ROCKPORT, CHELMSFORD, CONCORD or ANDOVER MA? If so, make sure you attend your Town Meeting or have let your Town Meeting Rep know where you stand on the adoption of zoning under the so-called MBTA Communities Act/3A. Those votes are happening on APRIL 29th - TONIGHT (Wakefield, Winchester, Rockport, Chelmsford, Concord) and APRIL 30th (Andover) - TOMORROW. Here in Massachusetts, as across the country, we are desperately in need of more housing to remain economically competitive. And the MBTA Communities zoning has the potential to create 'missing middle' moderately dense housing that can make our towns more livable, economically vibrant (think - coffee shops, grocery stores, hardware stores, local retail, in addition to supporting your commercial tax base). Without enabling the creation of more housing, the costs of renting and buying homes will continue to go up, making it increasingly difficult to attract the young folks and young families that are critical to our communities' ecosystems.

So interesting to learn how various communities are addressing the affordable housing issue!