Dana Chermesh-Reshef

The latest podcast out now focused on housing innovation. We are joined by Jenna Louie from Ivory Innovations and Michelle Boyd from Terner Labs to talk about off-site construction, ADU policy, capital gaps, scale, climate and more. This episode isn't just about the innovations themselves, but the ways that people, like Jenna and Michelle, and the organizations they work for, are building a better housing innovation ecosystem. We need a stronger housing innovation ecosystem to scale the companies that will help us meet our housing needs and help push policy forward. https://bit.ly/3SboKpU

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New Analysis: The Rent Relief Act's Impacts Across Locations and Incomes We've modeled the effects of the Rent Relief Act, a bill introduced by Kamala Harris during her time as a Senator. This proposed legislation would create a refundable tax credit for renters. Our analysis examines how the credit would vary based on location and income: * In central Missouri, where the Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR) for studios is $540/month, the maximum annual credit for a studio could be $6,480 (the country's lowest maximum) * In San Diego, where the SAFMR for 4-bedroom homes reaches $6,960/month, the maximum annual credit could be $83,520 (the country's highest maximum) * Income-based phase-outs affect the credit amount at different income levels * The credit's structure may influence housing choices and geographical mobility Our post includes examples and charts showing how the credit would work for different household types across income levels. We also discuss plans for future analysis incorporating labor supply and migration effects. Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/efEwmZbD

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A defining moment for NYC! The New York City Council's approval of #CityofYes is a game-changing blueprint for our city's future. From reducing onerous parking mandates to establishing a universal affordability preference in medium- and high-density neighborhoods, this historic vote represents the most meaningful effort to upgrade our city’s zoning regulations to address the housing problem in New York City in at least half a century. This zoning overhaul along with a $5 billion commitment for related infrastructure will pave the way for our neighborhoods to expand economic opportunity and enable a wide range of housing opportunities that fit the unique character of each community. By modernizing outdated rules, we're unlocking NYC's potential. Thank you to Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams and the City Council, City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick, and First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer for the leadership and vision they demonstrated in ensuring our city will be a more welcoming and accessible place for generations of future New Yorkers. Read more about City of Yes, including insights from our CEO, Rafael E. Cestero, here: https://lnkd.in/e3jpYAHW

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Check out the latest article about #BostonsAFFH in Smart Cities Dive, where our Director of Housing, Rasheedah Phillips, emphasizes that while the zoning amendment allows developers “to pause and to consider their impacts [on] residents,” it didn’t “create the capacity for those residents to participate in that process.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gVn_Mf5z #HousingJustice #OurHousingFutures #ThrivingCommunities

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The most-read story from the previous week's Developer's Digest®, published by City Limits, reports on Mayor Eric Adams' advocating for his City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (COYFHO) plan to address New York City's housing crisis by increasing apartment construction through zoning reforms. The plan proposes adding residential density, especially near transit and commercial areas, but faces mixed reactions from community boards, with 27 out of 59 boards issuing unfavorable recommendations. Supporters, including Adams' administration, argue it's crucial due to the city's low 1.4% rental vacancy rate and rising homelessness. COYFHO aims to create 100,000 new homes, doubling past housing production rates. Critics are concerned about neighborhood character and affordability. To read more stories like this and to stay on top of the most recent news from the development world, subscribe to our Developer’s Digest® using the link below: https://bit.ly/3Qg1qXV #digest #dsa #nyc #weknowzoning #deveopmentsites #developmentnews #cityofyes #ericadams

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It's time to make your property greener and more resilient. Sign up for tomorrow's webinar covering HUD's Green and Resilient Retrofit Program - a game-changer for multifamily housing owners. Learn about the three funding paths to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and future-proof your properties against climate impacts. Sign up at https://bit.ly/4azsF7f #RealEstateManagement #MultifamilyHousing #GreenBuildings #SustainableHousing #PropertyManagement

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The reconversion of office spaces into residential units is a growing trend driven by shifting market demands and urban development dynamics. As remote work becomes more prevalent and businesses adopt flexible work arrangements, the need for traditional office spaces has decreased. At the same time, there is a rising demand for housing in city centers and urban areas due to population growth, changing demographics, and a preference for proximity to amenities and services. Converting underutilized or vacant office buildings into residential units presents a practical solution for repurposing existing infrastructure and meeting the housing needs of urban populations. This reconversion trend also aligns with sustainable urban development goals by promoting mixed-use spaces, reducing commute times, and revitalizing urban cores.

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Restrictive zoning "drives up prices, drives out working and middle-class residents, and constrains flexibility." Zoning reform in New York City via City of Yes could do away with restrictive zoning, providing opportunity for all. RPA strongly supports #CityOfYes for Housing Opportunity and encourages City Council to do the same. From Tom Wright:

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#Suburban America is changing. In turn, how #municipalities respond has a direct impact on #QualityOfLife. The secret sauce? Smart development that works toward establishing healthier, community-serving places. Authors June Williamson (The City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture) and Ellen Dunham-Jones (Georgia Institute of Technology) talk about what is – or should be – stimulating change in this insightful Commercial Property Executive #podcast.

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Check out our series on key insights for project financing for affordable rental housing

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As the demand for affordable housing grows stakeholders in housing must become more innovative in their approach to social housing development. One opportunity lies in repurposing abandoned buildings. Refurbishment and New Build projects each have different requirements and ventilation challenges. At Vent-Axia we work with the social housing providers to provide the right solutions for their housing stock, such as our new update Lo-Carbon Revive 7. Designed to meet the specific needs of the social housing sector this next generation of the popular Revive 7 filter-less unitary fan offers greater efficiency, near silent operation and customisable airflow in line with the updated Part F of the Building Regulations. This gives social housing landlords confidence that the new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 can tackle the issues of condensation of mould, while improving the efficiency of housing stock and comfort for residents. Meanwhile, its new low-profile design means the Revive 7 is even easier to install in wider range of locations. https://lnkd.in/e_FqGn7v

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Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are gaining traction as a solution to address housing affordability, but barriers like high construction costs and limited financing options still stand in the way. In 2023, the Bipartisan Policy Center brought together industry leaders and policy experts to explore how ADUs can help ease our nation’s housing supply shortage. We discussed innovative solutions to expand ADU development, empower homeowners, and overcome key challenges. Learn more from this discussion: https://lnkd.in/ezJvgpk7 

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With a critical housing shortage, the idea of repurposing vacant office buildings into housing has gained traction in major cities like New York. What is the sustainability impact of these conversions? Our report, "Office to residential conversions: the carbon story," explores the window of carbon reductions that could result from expanding the range of buildings eligible for office-to-residential conversions in New York City. Our analysis shows that expanding conversion eligibility could result in up to a 54% reduction in whole life carbon emissions by 2050 below the business-as-usual condition. The cumulative impact of the potential savings is significant – by 2050, total carbon savings could amount to the annual emissions from 2.3 million passenger vehicles. Explore the report here: https://bit.ly/4efB3L5 #ClimateWeekNYC #OfficetoResi #BuildingDecarbonization

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📘 New Chapter Spotlight: "Multifamily Housing Preservation" in "Navigating HUD Programs: A Practitioners' Guide to the Labyrinth, Second Edition" In Chapter 2, edited by George Weidenfeller, dive deep into the intricacies of HUD's Multifamily Housing Preservation programs. Despite some programs no longer being active, understanding their historical context and enduring restrictions is crucial for any legal professional working to refinance, rehabilitate, and preserve affordable housing. This chapter provides essential insights into navigating past and present HUD programs under the National Housing Act, highlighting the complexities of dealing with legacy obligations in housing projects. A must-read for attorneys, developers, and anyone involved in the affordable housing sector looking to enhance their expertise and impact on housing preservation. 🔗 Grab your copy now and stay ahead in your practice: https://lnkd.in/enX8pu_M  #HUDPrograms #AffordableHousing #LegalGuide #HousingPreservation #ABAForum #HUDBook

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What are some of the social, economic and environmental costs of not having enough housing? Fortune magazine’s brief spotlights some of the complex layers preventing the development of new housing supply. But above all, there needs to be more collaboration and fewer barriers to incentivize builders to generate the housing that communities need and there needs to be less pushback from existing homeowners (NIMBYs) to accept new housing development in their neighborhoods. What may prove ultimately helpful is an ROI study that compares the social and economic costs of not having enough housing with the costs of investing in the necessary infrastructure and development to ensure there is enough housing and resources to foster sustainable economic growth. There’s a paywall to the brief Fortune article, but Yahoo Finance republished it for free. Access it by following the link. https://lnkd.in/gtYMGVPv . . . #housing #housingshortage #housingcrisis #housingforbellingham

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Did you know 57% of surveyed NYC affordable co-ops have been impacted by extreme weather, yet many lack the funding needed for resilience? To support affordable co-ops, we at UHAB alongside, Environmental Defense Fund and Cornell University released “An Assessment of NYC Cooperative Housing’s Climate Vulnerability and Barriers to Adaptation.” This new report looks at climate impacts on permanently affordable co-ops in New York City and encourages more responsive and equitable policies. Learn more about the report here: https://www.edf.org/Z6Ex  

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