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Can new home building tech help solve the affordability crisis?

Adele Peters

December 12, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Vallejo, California

Development companies like FactoryOS have turned to industrial manufacturing and 3D printing in an attempt to hasten development timelines and reduce city and civilian costs. Construction crews build entire apartment units inside factories, then assemble the buildings "lego-style" on site to avoid weather and city delays.

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A Denver construction company's tech saved it lots of time and money. Then it shared with competitors — for free

Tamara Chuang

December 10, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

PCL Construction is known in the construction industry for being innovative. Most recently, they have begun a push to integrate technology to modernize their company and the industry. By working with software engineers and app developers, the company has drastically improved efficiency. Not content to let the rest of the industry remain inefficient, PCL also decided to openly share its software.

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Keeping It Local

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

November 29, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, a program based on a similar initiative in Cleveland is on its way to success. PAGE (Philadelphia Anchors for Growth & Equity) will direct spending from large institutions locally. Specifically, it will work with anchor institutions like the universities in town and fill gaps, like building a laundry facility that will create jobs and fill the need by places like Jefferson Health and Penn Medicine. Job creation is what will keep this organization and the city of Philadelphia going.

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How Temporary Tiny Homes Could Solve Dutch Cities' Housing Crises

Feargus O'Sullivan

November 26, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Rotterdam

While more permanent housing is built to meet demand in the Netherlands, the stopgap answer is to build “tiny homes.” Completely built in a factory, these tiny homes still provide all basic housing amenities. They will be laid out in clusters of four and in larger communities to overcome what some worry will be isolating for many people who have nowhere else to turn. As an interim solution, these tiny homes are perfect-but they aren’t built to last, so the goal is to get residents into more permanent housing.

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Denver Is Testing Housing Vouchers For Middle-Income Workers. Austin Will Be Watching.

Audrey McGlinchy

November 14, 2018 |

KUT |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Housing voucher programs provide assistance to those who make too much to qualify for Section 8 housing, but whose wages can’t keep up with rent in their cities. Denver, Colorado, is addressing the financial burden of skyrocketing rents by providing middle-income earners such as teachers and healthcare workers with housing assistance. Funded through a public-private partnership, the two-year pilot program allows applicants to search online for landlords that have agreed to accept the vouchers.

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Can we design neighborhoods to survive wildfires?

Adele Peters

November 14, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Wildfires are inevitable, especially as forests become drier due to climate change, but it is possible to design the built environment so that fires don’t destroy as much property or as many lives. Architects now can choose different materials that resist ignition from wind-borne embers and can put more distance between homes. Spacing homes farther apart and burying power lines can help, but the changing climate is also making some places unsuitable for rebuilding destroyed communities.

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In Amsterdam, a Unique Housing Agency Managed to Transform a Neighborhood

Deborah Nicholls-Lee

November 12, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Amsterdam

Residents of a street in Amsterdam called Zeedijk took it upon themselves to rid the street of heroin abuse and blight by creating a public-private real-estate partnership. The partnership rehabilitated the street while ensuring locals weren't pushed out or displaced. Now, other areas in the city, including the Red Light District, are using this same approach to protect the rights and safety of their residents.

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A Seattle ironworker fell eight floors and survived. Here's why

Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

October 24, 2018 |

KUOW Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Worker injuries are on a steady decline in Seattle despite a construction boom. Companies are incentivized to create safe working conditions by lower insurance rates and high competition for job bids.

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Going the Extra Mile to Connect Local Businesses to Major Construction Projects

Leslie Nemo

October 22, 2018 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The Contractor Assistance Center in San Francisco “provides local contractors with the resources to compete with larger companies for project bids.” Many construction projects have certain standards to meet: a certain number of local workers, minority owned-businesses, and more. The Contractor Assistance Center helps businesses register properly, whether as locally-owned or owned by a disadvantaged group. They also provide other services, all hoping local businesses can compete on a bigger scale.

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"We can all be placemakers": The programs training Detroiters in development

MJ Galbraith

October 19, 2018 |

Model D |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

When Chase L. Cantrell realized the overwhelming majority of development financing in a Detroit real estate project was going to white, wealthy developers, he opted to create a program that would train developers who better reflect the demographics of the city. Building Community Value aims ”to create a more equitable development ecosystem in the city of Detroit” by training people of all ages in real estate development. This is one of several successful programs popping up in Detroit that aim to spread wealth and increase equitable development efforts across more Detroit neighborhoods.

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