Joshua Wallack’s Post

The affordable housing crisis hits home for me – literally. I see the families struggling, the communities impacted. Building communities, not just homes – this is the heart of GRM. Attainable housing is crucial, but true community means thriving families, respect for the land, and opportunities forged through collaboration. Modular solutions, combined with Indigenous leadership, stewarding, and partnerships, make this vision a reality. This is the power of hands-on reconciliation. Our greatest available asset as a community is KNOWLEDGE SHARING and this LinkedIn community holds many of the thought leaders I admire most. With that being said, what does a thriving community look like to you? Can we express our support for any of your initiatives that align with our mission? There is no competition only a shared responsibility for the housing of generations to come! If you haven't heard of our team yet that's largely due to our time spent in Doing rather than Marketing(Promising to do) feel free to check us out and reach out anytime! If you're suggesting collaborations please read up on the 7 Grand Father Teachings first, should your team align with these we have a lot to discuss, if not no offense but don't bother. https://lnkd.in/eNBiZdRy #modularconstruction #affordablehousing #reconciliationinaction Clarence Cachagee Two Rivers Community Development Centre NICHI (National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement(SCHL) NACCA Cody Lewis Kaitlyn Stark Mary Musson, CD, BA (Hons), Dipl MM Conestoga College Anthony Piscitelli Caitlin C. Michel Tremblay Michael Montour Natalie Adams Jeffrey Cyr Kirsten Wright NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment and Training Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation Trevor Bomberry Gary Fleisher NUQO Modular Mike Farwell KAY VALLEY Mike Morrice Mark B. Hill Tooketree Passive Homes Sean Geobey Berry Vrbanovic Filomena Tassi Dave Vince Ryan Stupica Carol Anne Hilton, MBA, ICD.D Crow Shield Lodge

"Imagine a world where walkable neighborhoods weren't only for the elite, but the norm for everyone. A world where kids could safely walk to school, neighbors could gather in local parks, and the corner store was just a stroll away. Most importantly, imagine a world where this lifestyle actually costs less to live in than wherever you live now. That is my mission, and I won’t stop until it’s made an option for every person in the country. "Because that’s what it should be: an option. Americans shouldn’t have to choose only between a shitty subdivision that satisfies some abstract requirement for “housing” and spiritually bankrupts them or a walkable paradise that literally bankrupts them. People deserve better than that. "Don’t worry, I have a solution. What if we - and bear with me on this - build more of the places people actually want to live in? "It's not easy. First of all, it requires giving a shit about the people who live there. That rules out nearly every homebuilder and most large developers right off the bat. I’m not going to name any names, but you know who you are…"

Would be interesting to explore the viability of garden suites in other municipalities, perhaps those home to post secondary educational institutions and multi-generational families. Success may be incumbent on the creation of a seperate sub-department (and thus jobs) to ensure such a project doesn’t fall victim to current administrative backlogs.

While not a panacea for the housing crisis, missing middle housing options like garden suites can be a part of the solution. But only if we make it easy for folks to build those new homes. As of today, only 97 building permits have been issued for garden suites here in Toronto. It's a sign that the City needs to revisit its approach. As a result of a motion I moved back in 2022, Beaches-East York has seen the largest uptake in garden suites across Toronto. That’s because of additional permissions around height and setbacks for anyone looking to build a garden suite between Coxwell and Victoria Park. This week I advocated for those additional permissions in Beaches-East York to be expanded city-wide, in addition to the removal of all angular plane requirements. Whether it’s a home for aging parents looking to maintain a level of independence - or adult children looking to find a place they can afford to raise a family - it’s another option for those who increasingly have none. And we can do more to make garden suites a viable option for families across our city. More Neighbours Toronto HousingNowTO Craig Race Craig Race Architecture Inc Laneway Suites Ltd. Naama Blonder Blair Scorgie Leith Moore Antonio Gomez-Palacio

Imagine waking up to the serene sounds of nature, with friendly neighbors and wide-open spaces. This is the charm of small-town living, and it's more affordable than you think. But how do you maximize the value of your dream home in a small town? Here are some steps: 1️⃣ Research the Market: Know the trends and property values in your target area. Small towns often have hidden gems at amazing prices. 2️⃣ Prioritize Renovations: Focus on upgrades that increase home value. Kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal can make a huge difference without breaking the bank. 3️⃣ Leverage Local Expertise: Work with local real estate professionals who understand the unique aspects of small-town markets. Their insights can be invaluable. 4️⃣ Community Involvement: Get to know the community. Homes in vibrant, engaged neighborhoods often appreciate faster and make for a more enriching living experience. From Dunlap, TN to small towns across the country, affordable dream homes are within reach for more people than ever. What’s your dream for small-town living? 🌳 #RealEstate #SmallTownLiving #HomeValue #AffordableLiving

New York's housing landscape is evolving, and Woodside, Queens is at the forefront of this transformation! 🏙️ Exciting news for those seeking affordable housing options: A new residential tower is set to rise in Woodside, bringing 250 much-needed apartments to the neighborhood. This development is more than just bricks and mortar; it's a beacon of hope for many New Yorkers struggling with rising living costs. As a real estate professional, I've seen firsthand how projects like these can revitalize communities and create opportunities for residents. But let's dive deeper: 1. Affordability: How will this impact Woodside's housing market? 2. Community integration: What amenities might be included to benefit both new and existing residents? 3. Transit access: With Woodside's excellent transportation links, how might this development attract those working in Manhattan or other boroughs? This project reflects a growing trend in NYC - the push for more affordable housing in well-connected neighborhoods. It's a delicate balance between development and maintaining community character. What are your thoughts? Are you excited about this new development, or do you have concerns? Let's discuss the potential impacts on Woodside and the broader Queens community. #NYCRealEstate #AffordableHousing #Woodside #QueensNY #UrbanDevelopment #CommunityGrowth #CelindaIaboni #RealBrokerLLC #RealBrokerage

Brownfield Success Story: Block 96 Flats, a new downtown housing community in Anchorage is welcoming its first tenants. Anchorage Community Development (ACDA) and Debenham Properties created a historic public-private partnership to develop the first 100% market rate apartment community in the Park Strip North district of downtown Anchorage, Alaska in more than 40 years, thanks in part to the help of EPA brownfield grants. The .48-acre site was used for residential purposes from approximately 1950 to 2012 when the residential structures were demolished. After demolition of the residences the property was home to the former K Street East food truck pod. The property benefitted from the Municipality of Anchorage's FY2017 and FY2019 EPA Community Wide Assessment (CWA) Coalition Grants, which funded Phase II ESA and further investigation after isolated contamination was found, most likely from accidental releases from parked vehicles. No further investigation was needed and in late March, Block 96 Flats officially opened to residents. “Having a vibrant population living downtown means restaurants stay open later, small businesses have more foot traffic and the streets stay alive after five” according to Andrew Halcro Executive Director of ACDA. “Beyond the immediate benefits of Block 96 Flats, we believe ACDA has finally solved the economic equation for getting more new housing built downtown,” he added. Read more: https://loom.ly/B7Z_7rM

What happens when you build missing middle housing? Check out this Indy suburbs first townhomes while building a community. The number of townhomes is limited compared to the apartments but they are creating a community not a subdivision with selective commercial space. Even current residents are moving there showing the need for more of this type of housing. Could this type of development be in your communities future?

This is a very powerful article on the benefits of intentional community. Co- housing + good design = great social and economic outcomes.

This story was interesting and shocking to me. Now, I have not heard of this ("Poor Door") happening in Chicago, but Chicago is gearing up to convert office buildings to mixed-use residential developments (rightfully so) and there needs to be a review to ensure residents occupying affordable units are not treated differently. Another possibility to ensure some of these office conversions are equitable is to set aside projects for BIPOC affordable housing developers, nonprofits, or combination partnerships. Imagine if we were able to leverage a downtown asset to do more development in communities - that was a plug for all our neighborhood developers. My second is the lesson of not building in affordable neighborhoods. We cannot only think about the four corners of the affordable apartment walls but also the other occupancy aspects, such as food/grocery, clothes, dining, parking, etc... With the negative impacts of inflation and price gouging, we need to continue to ensure our neighborhoods are affordable as well. https://lnkd.in/grgSR263