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How Cleveland is salvaging old buildings to create a new circular economy

Marc Lefkowitz

February 01, 2022 |

The Land |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Developers in Cleveland are salvaging building parts that can be reused in other construction projects. The sustainable initiative known as deconstructing helps reduce carbon footprints and helps avoid the “high social and environmental costs of dumping demolition material in landfills.”

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Mobile turns blighted homes into affordable housing

Sarah Whites-Koditschek

November 11, 2021 |

AL.com (Alabama Media Group) |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mobile, Alabama

Home makeovers are increasing the stock of available affordable housing in Mobile. Instead of constructing new developments, the city is repairing vacant homes with federal housing funds, resulting in a “53 percent drop in blighted properties” while simultaneously alleviating the housing shortage.

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On the bricks: Efforts to increase commercial affordability in Boulder and beyond take time and planning

Angela K. Evans

November 11, 2021 |

Boulder Weekly |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

A big factor in the high costs of doing business in Boulder is a tight and expensive commercial real estate market. Some of the many initiatives the city is considering are beginning to work already in Portland. There, the city's economic development agency, Prosper Portland, has acted as an intermediary to open more affordable spaces to small, local businesses. With extras like marketing and accounting help, the program managed to retain all of its original tenants, although a big push to enlist private developers in creating new space has hit snags.

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Here's how Charlotte could turn property taxes into rental help

Lauren Lindstrom

November 02, 2021 |

The Charlotte Observer |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Property taxes are being used to subsidize rent for households that earn up to 30 percent of the area median income. The pilot program allows landlords to use the tax rebates to cover rent for tenants who would be unable to live there otherwise. The initiative makes rent more affordable and also keeps affordable housing from being sold to developers who create luxury apartments, reducing the available affordable housing stock.

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In Big Sky, New Affordable Housing Program Pays Property Owners to Rent to Locals

Will Walkey

October 04, 2021 |

Jackson Hole Community Radio (KHOL) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Big Sky, Montana

A local initiative in this Montana town is attempting to alleviate the housing and labor shortages. Homeowners are given a financial incentive to rent to locals who work in the area. The Big Sky Community Housing Trust helps homeowners find renters and identify an appropriate price point for their unit. For a two-year commitment of renting to a local worker, homeowners receive $14,500.

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Off-Site Construction Offers Partial Solution to Housing Crunch

Matt Hoisch

October 01, 2021 |

Koto Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Norwood, Colorado

A housing initiative is providing affordable housing for local workers in Norwood, Colorado. The Telluride Foundation is building houses in factories which significantly reduces the price of buying a home, making home ownership a possibility for residents who live and work in the town.

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How Building Community Value puts local development into the hands of Detroiters

Rhonda J. Smith

September 23, 2021 |

Detour Detroit |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Students of the Better Buildings, Better Blocks class are getting a lesson in real estate development. Not only do participants have the chance to build a business, they will also be doing it in their own neighborhoods and therefore investing in their own community. The course was hatched as an idea to work toward bridging the racial wealth gap and allowing Black community members in Detroit to access real estate development projects.

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Some Mountain Towns are Eyeing Vancouver-style Vacancy Taxes. Could it Help Address Housing Crises?

Kyle Mackie

September 21, 2021 |

Jackson Hole Community Radio (KHOL) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver’s taxes on vacant residences have reduced the number of empty homes and apartments. The tax on empty homes was levied in an effort to ease the lack of housing, especially affordable housing. The tax has generated money for affordable housing projects in addition to encouraging property owners to rent out their residences. The success of the tax is encouraging other cities to enact similar laws.

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House hunting apps giving agents a run for their money

Graham Kajilwa

September 16, 2021 |

The Standard |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

xPodd is a real-time service that connects tenants to landlords whose listings match their specifications. The app helps prospective tenants navigate Nairobi’s competitive and fast-moving real estate market. Tenants fill out detailed specifications about what they are looking for and xPodd aims to connect them with at least three matching landlords for a small fee. Once matched, they get photos of the houses, their respective GPS locations, and contact information for the landlord. They also receive a number for a xPodd official who can go with prospective tenants to complete the deal.

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The great experiment—Can resident-owned mobile home parks save manufactured housing communities?

Angela K. Evans

September 16, 2021 |

Boulder Weekly |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

Mobile home owners in Colorado are beginning to own their own communities due in part to legislation that is making it easier to do so. Resident-owned communities preserve the affordable housing stock, which manufactured home communities make up a large percentage of.

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