Ednium: The Alumni Collective’s Post

🏡 Addressing Central Ohio's Housing Shortage: Recent Developments 🚀   Metro Development's Northwood Project: 🔹Westerville-based Metro Development eyes 1,100-unit housing project in Delaware. 🔹1,168 units proposed, including multifamily and single-family homes. 🔹 Spread across three subareas, aiming to ease the housing shortage in the region.   Continental Real Estate's Bexley Development: 🔹 $77 million mixed-use project on East Main Street, Bexley. 🔹 232 apartments, office space, potential Cameron Mitchell restaurant. 🔹 Facing opposition; Bexley Architectural Review board approval pending. 🔹 Despite hurdles, The Community Builders remains optimistic about project advancement.   Affordable Housing Trust's Impact Fund: 🔹 The Affordable Housing Trust introduces a $60 million regional impact fund. 🔹 Focus on facilitating and investing in developments for affordable homeownership and rentals. 🔹 Aims to go beyond Franklin County boundaries.   Columbus Mayor's Initiatives: 🔹 Proposes a city-wide residential tax abatement for developers including affordable units. 🔹 Zoning code overhaul underway; new maps expected in spring 2024.   The collaborative efforts of developers, city leaders, and nonprofits are making strides to alleviate Central Ohio's housing shortage. For more insight, feel free to reach out! 🏠💼 #CentralOhio #RealEstateDevelopments #CRE

Our CEO J. A. Armstrong III recently penned an impactful opinion piece for The Dallas Morning News, addressing critical points regarding the City of Dallas' Forward Dallas land use plan. In his article, he calls for a revision of the plan to better tackle the city’s housing affordability crisis and bridge the economic divide across neighborhoods. Here are key takeaways: - 🏠 The need for specific strategies to boost affordable housing and prevent the displacement of low-income residents. - 🌆 Concerns about high-density development potentially leading to gentrification and exclusion of long-term residents. - 🤝 The importance of creating mixed-income communities and preserving affordable housing. - 📢 Advocating for enhanced incentives and policies to support affordable housing construction city-wide. - 🙋♂️ Emphasizing community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure diverse resident needs are met. Check out the full article here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g3XgHWx8 #Dallas #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment #CityPlanning

2024 Housing Supply Innovation [online] Symposium - RSVP today for Jan 23rd https://lnkd.in/gswdZFh4 Join Terner Center & Labs and National League of Cities for the 2024 Housing Supply Innovation Symposium. This event features the current cohort of housing affordability innovators at Terner Housing Lab in conversation with local and national leaders, experts, and investors. This year’s topic is Human Centered Approaches to Building and Accessing Housing. Participants will investigate holistic approaches to housing supply that consider history, sustainability, and, most importantly, respond to the needs of the residents we aim to house. Honoring History: Acknowledge and address historical discrimination in housing as communities pave the way for a more inclusive tomorrow. Learn how lessons from the past can inform present and future housing initiatives that bridge gaps and promote equality. Sustainable Foundations: Explore innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for housing while prioritizing environmental responsibility. Human-Centered Housing: Centering the human experience, participants will delve into creative ways to increase individual access to housing. From community initiatives to personalized solutions, discover how communities can make every house a home. Image: The American Dream by Greyson Perry, 2020 (https://lnkd.in/gYuea5iY) #housingisahumanright #housingattainability #theamericandream

🌟 Exciting news from MassHousing! 🌟 Introducing the Commercial Conversion Initiative, a pioneering program poised to rejuvenate downtown areas across Massachusetts while tackling the critical need for new housing statewide. This initiative offers municipalities comprehensive planning services aimed at swiftly repurposing underutilized commercial buildings into vibrant residential spaces. As cities nationwide adapt to changing work dynamics, the focus on downtown revitalization gains momentum, making the conversion of vacant commercial properties into homes crucial. With a suite of resources including candidate identification, feasibility analyses, and regulatory assistance, the initiative paves the way for transformative projects to access funding under the Governor's Affordable Homes Act. Let's reshape urban landscapes, foster stronger communities, and address housing challenges head-on. #CommercialConversion #MassachusettsHousing #UrbanRevitalization #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gYARYSND

The City of Aurora has been repurposing a number of long vacant buildings as affordable workforce housing. Yesterday the City celebrated the first of two school adaptive reuse projects by our firm Cordogan Clark. The formerly vacant Todd Elementary School is part of the city of Aurora's plan to make sure any available space is being used to give back to the community, in this case, affordable housing. "Administration is committed to providing hundreds of new housing options across the city by redeveloping underutilized and formerly vacant buildings," Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said. Some of those buildings have been vacant for over 70 years. But, the one on Oak Avenue has more than just apartments, it also has a health care clinic for uninsured or underinsured families. "We saw during COVID is how important housing and health intersect. So, this is definitely an amazing effort to be able to provide both of those in one spot," said Shelly Tucciarelli, Visionary Ventures' executive director. Tucciarelli is executive director of the organization behind the project. She said housing costs have increased 30% over the last three years. It's why these apartments are for families making between $18,000 and $63,000 a year. "You have to have stability in order to get a job, and, in order to get a job, you need housing. So they all work together," Tucciarelli said. "There's people out here that will help you," Washington said. "Get up, get out here." #cityofaurora #auroraillinois #adaptivereuse #workforcehousing #foxvalleyapartments #affordablehousing #blueprintforbetter #visionaryventures #ihda #housing #sustainabledevelopment #mcshaneconstruction #cordoganclark

Across the city, many residential campuses, or large lots with multiple buildings, have underused space that could be converted into housing. Funds from this new construction could repair existing buildings, revitalize community institutions, and help address the housing crisis. Today, arbitrary rules prevent campuses from utilizing their development rights. For example, if existing buildings are too tall or set too far back from the street, zoning prohibits new developments on the property – even if they meet current height limits and regulations. City of Yes for Housing Opportunity would remove these obstacles and streamline outdated rules, making it easier to add new buildings to campuses. #cityofyes #developmentsites #developmentsiteadvisors #nyc #weknowzoning

🌟 From Blight to Bright: Success Stories of Birmingham Property Transformations 🌟 In recent years, the landscape of Birmingham has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. Once-tarnished neighborhoods are being revitalized, abandoned buildings are finding new purposes, and community spirit is on the rise. Here are some key highlights demonstrating how strategic property transformations are reshaping our city: 🏢 **Revitalizing Abandoned Buildings** Many of Birmingham's abandoned properties have found new life through innovative redevelopment projects. Old industrial sites have been turned into trendy co-working spaces, while derelict shops have been transformed into vibrant local businesses, boosting economic activity and community engagement. 🏘️ **Affordable Housing Initiatives** Affordable housing remains a critical issue for many cities. Birmingham has witnessed several successful initiatives focused on converting blighted properties into affordable housing units. These projects are providing safe, decent, and affordable housing options for many families, fostering stability and community growth. 🌳 **Urban Green Spaces** Blighted properties often include vacant lots, which can become eyesores and hotspots for crime. However, Birmingham has taken an active approach in converting these spaces into urban parks and gardens. This not only beautifies the area but also promotes healthy living and environmental sustainability. ⚒️ **Community-Led Efforts** One of the most inspiring aspects of Birmingham's transformation is the role of community-led initiatives. Neighborhood associations, local nonprofits, and resident volunteers have spearheaded many successful projects. These grassroots efforts have cultivated a sense of ownership and pride among residents, further driving positive change. 🏗️ **Economic Growth and Job Creation** Rehabilitating properties is not just about aesthetics. It's about economic vitality. These projects often lead to new business openings and job creation, which, in turn, fuel further investments into Birmingham's economy. The transformation of Birmingham's landscape is a testament to the power of collaboration between government bodies, businesses, and the community. It’s not merely about bricks and mortar but about fostering thriving communities and a brighter future. 🔗 [Link to related article or more in-depth information] Let's continue to invest in and support the amazing work transforming our city. Have you been involved in or inspired by a property transformation project? Share your experiences and let's keep this conversation going! #BirminghamBright #UrbanRevitalization #CommunityDevelopment #PropertyTransformation #EconomicGrowthseriousserious

🔑 **Rethinking Housing: Beyond Affordability** 🏘️ In her thought-provoking article, "Affordable Housing Is Never the Only Problem – Or the Only Solution," Seth Kaplan delves deep into the roots of the housing crisis, reminding us that **housing is just one piece of a complex puzzle**. 🧩 Talen emphasizes that issues like poverty and social breakdown are not solely a result of inadequate housing but are intertwined with larger structural factors and social institutions. This revelation is a **call to action** for urban designers, planners, and architects to rethink how we approach community building. **Key Takeaways:** 1. **Holistic Solutions Are Crucial**: Tackling housing crises requires addressing the broader social context, highlighting the need for integrated community spaces—commercial centers, parks, libraries, and transit points—that foster interaction and accessibility. 2. **Community-Centric Design**: The role of **public infrastructure** in strengthening community ties cannot be understated. A suitable habitat transcends mere shelter; it cultivates connectivity and opportunity for all residents. 3. **Interdisciplinary Approach**: As we prioritize affordable housing initiatives, we must collaborate across various sectors—education, transportation, and health—ensuring that our strategies are comprehensive and inclusive. The conversation is further enriched by accompanying insights from recent articles on zoning reforms and policy changes needed to combat the **7.3 million-unit shortage** of affordable rental homes in the U.S. 🏙️ This is not merely about adding more units but about reimagining our urban landscapes to bridge economic divides. 🌉 📢 **Let's discuss!** How can we as industry professionals contribute to creating holistic and sustainable communities? What strategies are you seeing in your localities that effectively address this multifaceted crisis? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️ [Read the full article here](https://lnkd.in/eu7j7TAm)

As the new government moves at pace on their housebuilding announcements, it was very much a regeneration focussed week for me as well! Some highlights: 💺I attended a roundtable fabulously hosted by Browne Jacobson, focussed on community engagement in high street regeneration. Was such an engaging and lively discussion with peers from local government, regeneration, retail and health working across the country. Full note of the discussion to be shared soon! 🏗️ We held our first research workshop for our community powered regeneration project. This one was about what’s wrong with our current approach to regeneration and how we can start to change it. Great to have over 35 people online (including some old colleagues and friends) sharing their expertise and thoughts to help us with our research. We have our next one on Tuesday which will focus on the practical steps and examples of how we can do community-led regeneration well.  You can sign up here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/enx5nzh2 🫡 Great to be back working in Calderdale, kicking off our support for the development of a strategy for North Halifax. As a West Yorkshireman, always nice to be back and working in the "motherland". 🌟 What's struck me most from speaking with those who are working in regeneration is that there's definitely a feeling that community-led activity is becoming (and needs to be seen to be) much less niche in order for us to build the volume and quality of development that we need to. And there's so much interesting activity going on that we can all collectively learn from. We've not yet seen this same messaging from the new govt, but as momentum builds it will be hard to ignore.

I’m interested to hear from my #communityengagement and #communityledhousing colleagues on best methodologies and case studies on engagement of a whole community on the Council Long Term Plan (LTP) for housing for that community. I’ve been approached by a Community Association in my district who says the community is unhappy about the way the Council has been engaging with them on the future housing planned for the area (number and type of homes, density, zones). They feel it is being imposed on them and they want more voice and participation. They are worried about developer-driven housing that meets the zoning requirements but that doesn’t meet the local housing needs and preferences or that detracts from the character of the town. They’ve come to me as a community-led housing (CLH) and engagement expert to share with them successful examples of CLH and find ways of getting the council to work more WITH them on housing plans/neighbourhood design, etc. This is for about 1000 houses spread over a few zones. A lot of the CLH research I found is on groups of people who wish to develop their own housing/neighbourhoods (ie CLT, coop housing, cohousing) or housing organisations who champion it. However, I have less research on a wider community engaging with council on a whole area (town-wide) for housing on such a big scale (fitting into a council’s LTP). Still CLH, but different. And where the community has succeeded in getting the council to change its engagement methods to suit the needs of the community. I’d be keen to hear from anyone who’s done this kind of work. If you’d be willing to share with me your project, your method, any research/cases, I’d greatly appreciate it.