June 24, 2015

Beyond Bricks and Sticks





A weekly digest of current trends in housing and community development. The discussion examines topics from infrastructure to community fabric.


How Cities are Taking on Blight

(RECAP: Blight has reached crisis proportion in many cities across the country. But communities are fighting back, recognizing the severe impacts that blighted and abandoned properties can cause.)

Playgrounds for Seniors Popping Up in U.S.

(RECAP: The parks, which feature low-impact exercise equipment designed for adults, started abroad and are just now taking off in the U.S., where the approach seems to favor playgrounds that cater to multiple generations instead of being designed exclusively for the elderly.)

Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities

(RECAP: Infill development can bring many benefits, including financial savings for municipalities, increased property values for residents and businesses and economic stabilization of neighborhoods. Here are 30 strategies to help local governments overcome obstacles and encourage infill development in distressed communities.)

About Income Limits: An Interview with Peter Kahn

(RECAP: Income limits are used in various ways. The primary purpose for their creation was as an operating parameter in HUD’s rental assistance programs. However, there are at least 10 other HUD programs and 14 other federal programs that use some variation of HUD’s income limits.) 

Google Putting Up Millions For Disability Initiative

(RECP: The Internet search giant said this week that Google.org — the company’s charitable arm — is offering up $20 million to nonprofits “using emerging technologies to increase independence for people living with disabilities.” As part of the initiative, the company is also asking people with disabilities to suggest problems they would like to see addressed with the grant money.)

Opinions on Housing

The views and opinions expressed in Opinions on Housing are solely those of the original authors, and do not necessarily represent those of VHDA, our stakeholders or any/all contributors to this blog.

Are Millennials Really More Urban Than Previous Generations?

(RECAP: Blowback against the urban legend of the millennials has begun. We’re still seeing 10 stories a day about how they’re reviving city neighborhoods, but traditionalist pundits suggest that we have reached “peak urban millennial.”)

What You Need to Know About Recapitalizing Affordable and LIHTC Housing

(RECAP: Did you know that many low income housing developments are coming to the end of their tax credit lifecycle? In MHN’s recent webinar Preserving and Recapitalizing Low Incoming Housing Tax Credit and Affordable Housing, the presenters discussed how to reinvigorate affordable housing.)

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