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CLIENT ALERT: On August 6, 2024, Governor Maura Healy signed the Affordable Homes Act, which builds on recent legislation intended to address the state’s housing crisis. In addition to funding affordable housing developments throughout the state and paving the way for the creation of accessory dwelling units, this most recent legislation makes critical amendments to the Zoning Act intended to overcome an obstacle often cited as a key driver of the cost of development in Massachusetts – vexatious abutter appeals. Read more about how the newly enacted bill may affect your project timelines and approval processes here: https://bit.ly/3WV5e3V. #AffordableHomesAct #CommercialRealEstate #LandUseLaw #RIW

One of California's most progressive citywide Missing Middle-enabling strategies is one step closer to adoption! City Council is next!! We are proud to be collaborating with Tom Pace and his talented team on delivering these much-needed housing solutions for Sacramento to address it growing housing crisis. This was a true collaboration with this talented team! Greg Sandlund Matt Hertel, AICP and Nguyen N. Nguyen The process included: ➡ Robust and highly visual educational materials that were utilized by the team to inform the community and stakeholders ➡ Thoughtful, targeted community engagement lead by Roshaun Davis and his talented team at CLTRE in collaboration with Bill Lennertz to ensure that all voices are heard ➡ Citywide lot anlysis to inform lot testing and the pro forma analysis by Cascadia Partners to ensure the proposed Missing Middle Solutions are feasible. Pro forma analysis was run by neighborhood and for for sale and for rent scenarios ➡Extensive citywide mapping analysis to define the different contexts to inform the new regulatory/zoning approach ➡ Displacement Risk Analysis by Cascadia Partners to ensure that existing residents were not displaced as new housing is built. ➡ Detailed zoning and development standards recommendations to remove the barriers for the delivery of Missing Middle The work Opticos Design, Inc.was lead by the talented Mitali Ganguly and supported by Roger Foreman Patricia Cespedes Xenia Alygizou and Leigh Groniger The Missing Middle strategy supplements recent changes that were adopted that remove density citywide and replace it with Floor Area Ration Caps (FAR). Another progressive move on the City's part. Click and check out the content and let me know what you think! The City really committed to doing this well and being very thoughtful about it. https://lnkd.in/ga7_CYUV

*Opinion Post*- Great to see Edward Pinto’s testimony for the Senate Committee on the Budget. “The fundamental problem holding back housing construction is not insufficient subsidies but structural issues—namely, restrictive zoning, land use rules, and building codes. This makes buildable land scarce and expensive, and increases construction costs.” The best way we can work to address missing middle housing is by pursuing aggressive regulatory reform. Small developers need a real shot to build housing and that means making it easier and more practical to get through entitlements and permitting. https://lnkd.in/dsFnRfKu

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced the “Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act” (S.4460, H.R.8604) in Congress on June 5. This NLIHC-endorsed bill aims to help state and local governments tackle the affordable housing crisis by providing technical assistance on zoning and land use, creating new grant programs, and developing standardized models and best practices. Even when governments are committed to affordable housing, regulatory barriers can make it costly or impossible. This Act will provide the necessary resources and knowledge to reform these barriers, increasing access to affordable housing. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel applauded the legislation, stating it will help states and localities with the best practices and tools needed to reform zoning and land use barriers, supporting efforts to increase overall housing supply, especially for middle-income families. For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/etY_iWBb #AffordableHousing #HousingAct #JohnFetterman #LisaBluntRochester #NLIHC #HousingCrisis #ZoningReform

AAK's Memorandum to the Senate on the Affordable Housing Bill Earlier today, AAK Vice President, Arch. George Ndege presented the association's memorandum on the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023 to the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing. Some of the recommendations included:   1. The Bill should be consistent with existing housing laws and would have been best anchored as a Regulation under the Housing Act. 2. The definition of affordable housing falls short of encompassing the holistic functionality of a dwelling. It should be expanded to include essential elements such as integrated and inclusive infrastructure and services explicitly. 3. Housing as an ecosystem of integrated and inclusive infrastructure and amenities. 4. Allocation of funds to projects rather than entities, as well as county specific research. 5. The Affordable Housing Board should explicitly state the organizations that are to nominate members to the Board, with a stronger presence of the built environment professions on the Board. 6. Given that most of the recommendations that we presented were not adopted by the national assembly, we urged the senate to ensure that the Bill reflects the will of the people. Ample time should be given for submissions in the spirit of public participation.

Tennessee has a critical shortage of housing, but voluntary zoning incentives could help lower construction costs and encourage developers to build more diverse housing. With the passage of a new bill by the 113th Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee communities will now be able to provide incentives for housing investments that meet the needs of its workforce and families. Our new brief describes what cities need to know about the availability of this new housing tool, including the types of incentives that can be offered and the process for implementing incentive programs. Read the brief here: https://lnkd.in/dFsWtQrU ThinkTennessee was proud to be part of the statewide working group that helped get this legislation passed. #attainablehousing #affordablehousing #TNLeg #housingshortage #Tennesseehousing

In the January issue of Construction & Claims, we examine California's new laws that address the state’s housing and housing affordability crises by simplifying and expediting the approval of new housing. #affordablehousing

In the January issue of Construction & Claims, we examine California's new laws that address the state’s housing and housing affordability crises by simplifying and expediting the approval of new housing. #affordablehousing

In the January issue of Construction & Claims, we examine California's new laws that address the state’s housing and housing affordability crises by simplifying and expediting the approval of new housing. #affordablehousing

[Part 1] Recently an article I contributed to was published by the Regional Plan Association concerning the state of affordable housing in New Jersey. It gives insight to the past, present, and future of housing in New Jersey. Coincidently it was published around the same time I made available a housing guide for Jersey City concerning the recent changes in our Land Development Ordinance (see the next post)!