Open in app

Sign in

Write

Sign in

Part 3: 36 Existing Models for Improving Affordable Housing

Clinton Brown
Create Space
Published in
11 min readMay 27, 2019
Groundbreaking held in Sunset Park for new library, affordable housing

Here are three dozen models or frameworks that could be considered to improve housing in Sioux Falls. They are broken into:

  • Thinking Models
  • Development Models
  • Building Models
  • Financial Models
  • City-level Models

Each one is broke into the definition, any studies we could find on the subject, and a real world viable example of it being deployed somewhere.

Thinking Models

  1. Whole system thinking — is a method to understand how things (elements and systems) are related, and how they influence one another within a whole. An example of systems thinking is how elements like water, sun, soil, air, plants, animals and human beings interact and support one another as a system.

Studies

Examples

2. Normalize scaling down — Making do with less

Studies

Examples

3. Continuous improvement — A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek “incremental” improvement over time or “breakthrough” improvement all at once.[1] Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility.

Studies

Examples

4. Organic growth — Nature’s ability to adapt to changing conditions can serve as a model to planners and architects looking to create sustainable environments.

Studies

Examples

5. Densification — Densification is a term used by planners, designers, developers and theorists to describe the increasing density of people living in urban areas.

Studies

Examples

6. Socially responsible development — is informed by an ethical theory, in which individuals are accountable for fulfilling their civic duty; the actions of an individual must benefit the whole of society. In this way, there must be a balance between economic growth and the welfare of society and the environment.

Studies

Examples

7. Community-led development — is the process of working together to create and achieve locally owned visions and goals. It is a planning and development approach that’s based on a set of core principles that (at a minimum) set vision and priorities by the people who live in that geographic community, put local voices in the lead, build on local strengths (rather than focus on problems), collaborate across sectors, is intentional and adaptable, and works to achieve systemic change rather than short-term projects.

Studies

Examples

8. Live/work — is actually an old idea that has been modernized to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses and professionals. A live-work unit is a space that combines your workspace with your living quarters. You might have seen representations of such arrangements in movies where the storekeeper lived above his shop or a doctor’s office was a room off his home’s foyer. Modern live-work units range from minimalist to luxurious, have advantages and disadvantages, and present challenges for some city regulators.

Studies

Examples

9. Urban in-fill — new development that is sited on vacant or undeveloped land within an existing community, and that is enclosed by other types of development. The term “urban infill” itself implies that existing land is mostly built-out and what is being built is in effect “filling in” the gaps. The term most commonly refers to building single-family homes in existing neighborhoods but may also be used to describe new development in commercial, office or mixed-use areas.

Studies

Examples

10. Transit-oriented development — is a type of urban development that maximizes the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transport. In doing so, TOD aims to increase public transport ridership by reducing the use of private cars and by promoting sustainable urban growth.

Studies

Examples

11. Mixed income neighborhoods — The definition of mixed income housing is broad and encompasses many types of dwellings and neighborhoods. Generally speaking, a mixed income housing development includes diverse types of housing units, such as apartments, town homes, and/or single-family homes for a people with a range of income levels. Mixed income housing may include housing that is priced based on the dominant housing market (market-rate units) with only a few units priced for lower-income residents, or it may not include any market-rate units and be built exclusively for low- and moderate-income residents.

Study

Examples

Development Models

13. Small Scale Developers — typically a community based and focused developer who focuses on building and revitalizing the missing middle.

Study

Examples

14. Non-profit developers — Non-profit housing developers build affordable housing for individuals under-served by the private market. The non-profit housing sector is composed of community development corporations (CDC) and national and regional non-profit housing organizations whose mission is to provide for the needy, the elderly, working households, and others that the private housing market does not adequately serve.

Study

Examples

15. Community Development Corporations — A community development corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage in other activities that promote and support community development. CDCs usually serve a geographic location such as a neighborhood or a town. They often focus on serving lower-income residents or struggling neighborhoods. They can be involved in a variety of activities including economic development, education, community organizing and real estate development. These organizations are often associated with the development of affordable housing.

Study

Examples

Building Models

16. Co-housing — Co-housing is an intentional community of private homes clustered around shared space. Each attached or single family home has traditional amenities, including a private kitchen. Shared spaces typically feature a common house, which may include a large kitchen and dining area, laundry, and recreational spaces. Shared outdoor space may include parking, walkways, open space, and gardens. Neighbors also share resources like tools and lawnmowers. Households have independent incomes and private lives, but neighbors collaboratively plan and manage community activities and shared spaces. The legal structure is typically a homeowner association or housing cooperative. Community activities feature regularly-scheduled shared meals, meetings, and workdays. Neighbors gather for parties, games, movies, or other events. Co-housing makes it easy to form clubs, organize child and elder care, and carpool. Co-housing facilitates interaction among neighbors and thereby provides social, practical, economic, and environmental benefits.

Study

Examples

17. Four-plexes — a building that contains four separate apartments

Study

Examples

18. Bungalow courts — A bungalow court is a style of multi-family housing which features several small houses arranged around a central garden. The bungalow court was created in Pasadena, California in 1909 and was the predominant form of multi-family housing in Southern California from the 1910s through the 1930s. Homes in bungalow courts were generally small, low-rise houses in the spirit of bungalow design; however, the homes were designed in a variety of architectural styles, including Swiss chalet and Spanish Colonial Revival. Bungalow courts also integrated their courtyards with the homes, providing green space to homeowners.

Study

Examples

https://nextcity.org/features/view/cities-affordable-housing-design-solution-missing-middle

19. Modular structures/ factory built — Modular construction is the use of volumetric building modules where the units form the structure of the building as well as enclose usable space. Modular construction is particularly popular for hotels and student residences due to the economies of scale available from many similar sized modules and the particular benefit of reduced site construction time.

Study

Examples

20. Housing on top of public buildings — public housing integrated into or on top of public buildings

Examples

21. GAP housing — small dwellings built in between existing structures or in non conventional spaces.

Examples

22. 3D printed homes — a home built with 3D concrete “printing” construction

Examples

23. Earthen buildings — An earth structure is a building or other structure made largely from soil. Since soil is a widely available material, it has been used in construction since prehistoric times. It may be combined with other materials, compressed and/or baked to add strength. Soil is still an economical material for many applications, and may have low environmental impact both during and after construction.

Study

Examples

24. Accessory Dwelling Units — Secondary suite (or accessory dwelling unit) is an urban planning term used mainly in North American English for a self-contained apartment in an owner occupied single-family home / lot that is either attached to the principal dwelling or in a separate structure on the same property. In British English the term “annexe” is used instead. Reasons for wanting to add a secondary suite to a property may be to receive additional income, provide social and personal support to a family member, or obtain greater security.

Study

Examples

25. Other Construction Methods

Examples:

Financial Models

26. Housing trust — Housing trust funds are distinct funds established by city, county or state governments that receive ongoing dedicated sources of public funding to support the preservation and production of affordable housing and increase opportunities for families and individuals to access decent affordable homes. Housing trust funds systemically shift affordable housing funding from annual budget allocations to the commitment of dedicated public revenue. While housing trust funds can also be a repository for private donations, they are not public/private partnerships, nor are they endowed funds operating from interest and other earnings.

Study

27. Revolving loan fund — A revolving loan fund (RLF) is a gap financing measure primarily used for development and expansion of small businesses. It is a self-replenishing pool of money, utilizing interest and principal payments on old loans to issue new ones. While the majority of RLFs support local businesses, some target specific areas such as healthcare, minority business development, and environmental cleanup.

Study

28. Incentive investments in old buildings

Study

29. Vacant tax — a special tax paid by owners of vacant property if they are not building on then property

Study

Examples

30. Reduce urban sprawl

Study

Examples

31. Employer subsidized housing — Employer-assisted housing (EAH) refers to any housing program — rental or homeownership — that is financed or in some way assisted by an employer. EAH is a flexible tool that can be tailored to work in different community contexts and to support various goals. Most EAH programs help employees purchase homes — often near their workplace. They can also provide rental assistance or increase the amount of housing in the surrounding community that is affordable for an employer’s workers.

Study

Examples

32. Vacant room rental

Examples

33. Rent to own, lease to own — You rent a home for a certain amount of time, with the option to buy it before the lease expires. Rent-to-own agreements consist of two parts: a standard lease agreement and an option to buy.

Study

City Level Models

34. Eliminate parking minimums — Minimum parking requirements (MPR) are laws requiring new buildings to include a fixed number of off-street parking spaces based on an assumed demand for parking generated by the buildings’ use. This dates back to the early 1950s with its rapid urban and suburban development, resulting in an explosion in the number of cars worldwide and a shortage of parking. Some cities went so far as to use MPR to define the number of parking spaces for small businesses such as car washes or fruit stands, but they were more commonly assigned to bedrooms, classrooms or retail spaces. However, as urban spaces have become ever more crowded, many cities around the world are reconsidering the MPR concept.

Study

Examples

35. Transitional housing — Transitional living refers to any type of living situation that is transitional. The primary purpose or mission of transitional living environments is temporary. Transitional living facilities often offer low cost housing. Transitional living residents that cater to those recovering from economic hardship often graduate from a shelter to lesser crowded living situation. Transitional living may or may not have other common threads among residents. Transitional living provides professional support, education, and a stable living environment. Common types of transitional living include transitioning from jail or prison, an addiction treatment center or a mental health facility. They may also target homelessness, especially among youth. Transitional living is provided by many well known private and non profit organizations, by government, churches and other charitable organizations.

Study

Examples

36. Progressive long-term city plans

Examples

37. Reclaim streets for housing — Street reclaiming is the process of converting, or otherwise returning streets to a stronger focus on non-car use — walking, cycling and active street life. It is advocated by many urban planners and urban economists, of widely varying political points of view. Its primary benefits are thought to be: Decreased automobile traffic with fewer automobile accidents and less smog, Reduced summer temperatures due to less asphalt and more green spaces, Increased pedestrian traffic which also increases social and commercial opportunities, Increased gardening space for urban residents, Better support for co-housing and infirm residents, e.g. suburban eco-villages built around former streets

Examples

—

If you live in Sioux Falls, which of these do you think would work?

Have you seen any already deployed?

If you live elsewhere, what have you seen work and fail?

Housing
Affordable Housing
Architecture
South Dakota
Urban Planning

--

--

Clinton Brown
Create Space

Written by Clinton Brown

125 Followers
Editor for

I fuss over what kind of world I am leaving for my grandkids.

Help

Status

About

Careers

Press

Blog

Privacy

Terms

Text to speech

Teams