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NYC Pilot Program Hopes to Beautify Miles of Scaffolding

Rachel Kaufman

October 12, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City has launched City Canvas, a program to commission artwork to beautify sidewalk sheds set up to protect pedestrians in construction sites. Arts organizations partnering with the project will pick locations and select artists to create artwork on vinyl.

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Why do we demolish buildings instead of deconstructing them for re-use?

Nate Berg

October 09, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Each year, roughly 500 million tons of waste from the tearing down of buildings goes into landfills in the United States. Deconstruction, the idea of dismantling old buildings instead of the traditional method of tearing them down, diverts some of the waste, provides jobs, and makes affordable building materials more accessible. Though deconstruction does not work in all scenarios, it is a growing alternative with many benefits.

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England has more than 200,000 empty homes. How to revive them?

Mattha Busby

September 25, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Stockton-on-Tees

There are an estimated over 200,000 vacant homes across England, and Community Campus 87 is one group attempting to bring those homes back to life. By employing apprentices, some who have experienced homelessness, to learn skills such as house painting, the social enterprise is helping homes as well as homeless people bounce back. This is just one example of a handful of social enterprises that are funding the rebuilding of vacant properties with the goal of filling the old homes with more affordable and sustainable housing.

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This real estate company figured out a simple way to offer the homeless a house and a job

Adele Peters

September 21, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Chris Finlay, who manages a real estate company in Washington, D.C., decided to try hiring homeless people to work in his buildings. His goal was to provide a job alongside significantly discounted housing as a benefit of the job. Seeing the concept’s success, he started a nonprofit called Shelters to Shutters to help spread the idea around the country. The organization has helped hire people in 15 cities, and 93% of those hired are still employed in these jobs.

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How a pastor improved his west side neighborhood one house at a time

Andrew Yawn

September 19, 2018 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montgomery, Alabama

Reverend Welch moved to Montgomery in 1985 and sparked a decades-long fight to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding his church in an affordable and inclusive manner. Since then, the Greater Washington Park neighborhood has been transformed. Families are moving back, and people who previously couldn’t own a home now have the chance to achieve that milestone. Though there’s still work to be done, the neighborhood achieved what many others can’t: rebuilding without displacement.

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A Divided Neighborhood Comes Together under an Elevated Expressway

Katy Reckdahl

August 20, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Community organizing may be the key to a comeback along New Orleans’ Claiborne Avenue. Once home to a booming block of African American-owned businesses, many left once a new expressway demolished the street in the 1960s. Now, community input is essential in rebuilding. A new master plan included 11 meetings with residents to share their priorities. The painted murals, live jazz performances, and local gatherings still happening show that the Claiborne Corridor will remain home to its long-time residents, even in a new format.

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For Women, by Women: A Sisterhood of Carpenters Builds Tiny Houses for the Homeless

Lornet Turnbull

August 17, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Women4Women is an initiative that brings tradeswomen together in the construction field to do volunteer work for others. Since women represent just ten percent of construction workers in the United States, having the camaraderie and support of other women provides a place to turn when their authority is challenged. They are putting their skills to good work: the group recently built 15 tiny homes in Seattle that will act as emergency shelter for homeless women, and they have also repaired homes for the elderly.

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Giving new life to vacant buildings can boost struggling towns

Eillie Anzilotti

August 15, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Newburgh, New York

In New York, an intentional form of housing development is keeping affordability in mind. Neighbors for Neighborhoods provides funding for locals to redevelop blighted property from land banks and rent it out as affordable housing. The parameters ensure local impact: there is a limit to how many properties an individual can rent out, and the properties must be rented to people making below 80% the median income in the region. The program has $4 million in funding so far.

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How these Portland residents got to own a piece of their neighborhood

Oscar Perry Abello

August 14, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

A unique financial set up in Portland has led to the creation of the East Portland Community Investment Trust, in which residents in four local zip codes can invest small amounts of money into local projects, specifically shares of a shopping center. To invest, community members need to take a short financial literacy class. So far, the average investment is just $80, but that still pays annual dividends that are meaningful to its investors.

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Plaza Heralds New Era of Afrocentric Development in Seattle Neighborhood

Gregory Scruggs

August 07, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Central District, a historically black neighborhood in Seattle, is getting a makeover to better align it with its roots. Africatown is a nonprofit community land trust that is using its influence to bring Afrocentric design standards to the neighborhood as well as spurring economic development and construction of affordable housing. One real estate project includes a community mural, more gathering space for residents, and local government support.

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