🏘️ Neighborhood Development, Housing Policy, and Building Codes #383

Chuck Marone from Strong Towns interviews Seth Zarin, an incremental developer from Providence, Rhode Island, to discuss a newly released housing toolkit. The toolkit aims to address the enormity of the housing problem by focusing on simplifying regulations, supporting small-scale developers, and aiding in financing entry-level units. Zarin, who has appeared on the podcast before, shares his experiences as a developer in Providence, highlighting the challenges and misconceptions of the profession. Their conversation explores the difficulty of development work, the tight margins, and the often negative public perception of developers. They then discuss six key policy recommendations within the toolkit designed to make housing more accessible, such as allowing accessory dwelling units, legalizing smaller starter homes, and repealing parking mandates. The conversation also touches on the often-overlooked impact of building codes on housing affordability and concludes with excitement for the upcoming Strong Towns National Gathering in Providence.

https://www.strongtowns.org/