Housing activists in Vancouver marked another anniversary in the ongoing sagato rebuild social housing at a prominent, mostly empty site in the city.

In 2009, more than 200 social housing units were dismantled and taken away from the Little Mountain public housing complex at Main Street and E37th Avenue.

Residents who were forced to move were told they would be allowed to come back once a new development was completed. But since then, very little of what was promised has been built at the site.

Norm Dooley with a citizens advisory group says the project is a failure.

"We think the deal that was signed ... with a private developer has been a disaster.It's a disaster because as you can see, there's nothing here," he said motioning to the six-hectare site, which has one completed building but looks mostly like a neglected greenspace.

Little Mountain became home to Vancouver's first large-scale modern social housing project in 1954 and was initially managed by the federal government and then passed onto the province in 2007 before it was sold that year to developer Holborn Holdings Ltd.

Its proposal was to build three 12-storey mostly residential buildings, which would include around 1,400 market value homes, but also 234 social housing units, childcare, and a new community plaza and public park, but company didn't make publicwhat it would all look like until 2015.

According to a statement from the City, council approved rezoning for the site in 2016 and currently, five development permit applications have been submitted, which include 164 social housing units.

A building was completed in 2015 prior to the rezoning and has53 units, but asfor the others, they remain part of applications, which are at various stages of approval.

Temporary modular housinghas been constructed at the site, which the city says will not delay the completion of permanent housing at Little Mountain.

Holburn did not initially respond to CBC News requests on Saturday about when it expects buildings to be completed, but in the past has maintained the project is proceeding.

Vancouver-based architect Michael Geller was part of a team that bid on the property back in 2007 but lost out to Holborn.

He says the province should have done more to make deadlines part of the sale.

"The real problem I think is the nature of the deal that was struck between provincial government and the developer that didn't put in place the normal time restrictionsrequiring a pace of development that everybody hoped would happen," he said.

People at the rally on Saturday said they want the province to step in take the site back over from Holborn so that housing can be more permanently built.

"We think it's time to act and to call off the deal," said Dooley. "This land is incredibly valuable, it could be used for many purposes, many forms of housing."

Housing minister Selina Robinson did not say if expropriating the property is something the province could do.

Instead, she criticized the former provincial government, the B.C. Liberals in a statement.

"It's disgraceful that the old government threw away the potential this site represented," said in the statement. "Instead of a vacant lot, we could today be building hundreds of affordable homes."

She said her government is making "different choices" in responding to the housing crisis by investing in affordable housing.

Read this article:

Activists mark 10 years since housing demolished at Vancouver's Little Mountain - CBC.ca

The premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have committed to collaborate on developing nuclear reactor technology in Canada.

Doug Ford, Scott Moe and Blaine Higgs made the announcement and signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday in advance of a meeting of all the premiers.

They will be working on the research, development and building of small modular reactors as a way to help their individual provinces reduce carbon emissions and move away from non-renewable energy sources like coal.

Small modular reactors are easy to construct, are safer than large reactors and are regarded as cleaner energy than coal, the premiers say. They can be small enough to fit in a school gym.

SMRs are actually not very close to entering operation in Canada. Natural Resources Canada released an"SMR roadmap"last year, with a series of recommendations about regulation readiness and waste management for SMRs.

In Canada, about a dozen companies are currently in pre-licensing with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which is reviewing their designs.

"Canadians working together, like we are here today, from coast to coast, can play aneven larger role in addressing climate change in Canada and around the world," Moesaid.

Canada's Paris targets areto lower total emissions 30 per centbelow 2005 levels by 2030.Moe says the reactors would helpSaskatchewan reach a 70 per centreduction by that year.

The provinces' three energy ministries will meet in the new year to discuss how to move forward andby the fall a fully-fledged strategy for the reactors is expected to be ready.

However, don't expect to see them popping up in a nearby field anytime soon. It's estimated itwill take five to 10 years before they're built.

The provincial leaderssaid it could be an opportunity for economic growth, estimating the Canadian market for this energy at $10 billion and the global market at $150 billion.

Ford called it an"opportunity for Canada to be a true leader." At a time when Ottawa and the provinces areat odds, Higgs said it's the perfect time to show unity.

"It's showing how provinces come together on issues of the future."

No other premiers have signed on to the deal at this point, but Ford said all are welcome and "the more, the merrier."

But developing new energy technologies is a daunting task.Higgs admitted the project will need national support of some kind, though he didn't specify what.The agreement signed by the premiers is also not binding.

About 8.6 per cent of Canada's electricity comes from coal-fired generation. In New Brunswick that figure is much higher 15.8 per cent and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has said he worries about his province's energy producers being hit by the federal carbon tax.

Ontario has no coal-fired power plants. In Saskatchewan, burning coal generates 46.6 per cent of the province's electricity.

The federal governmentdescribessmall modular reactors (SMRs) as the "next wave of innovation" in nuclear energy technology and an "important technology opportunity for Canada."

Traditional nuclear reactors used in Canada typically generate about 800 megawatts of electricity, orenough to power about 600,000 homes at once (assuming that 1 megawatt can power about 750 homes).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN organization for nuclear co-operation, considers a nuclear reactor to be "small" if it generates under 300 megawatts.

Designs for small reactors ranging from just 3 megawatts to 300 megawatts have been submitted to Canada's nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, for review as part of a pre-licensing process.

Such reactors are considered "modular" because they're designed to work either independently or as modules in a bigger complex (as is already the case with traditional, larger reactors at most Canadian nuclear power plants).A power plant could be expanded incrementally by adding additional modules.

Modules are generally designed to be small enough to make in a factory and be transported easily for example, via a standard shipping container.

In Canada, there are three main areas where SMRs could be used:

See more here:

Group of premiers band together to develop nuclear reactor technology - CBC.ca

November 25, 2019 | David Kennedy | Senior Architect, Bailey Edward

The American Dream as we have known it is no longer part of the American success story. With a shortage of six million homes to house our families, the United States is facing a housing attainability crisis.

Today, only 18 percent of the Americans earning the medium income can afford a home in their communities, a number that inflates to 30 percent in urban areas. By taking advantage of existing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), the government and the private development community can work together to increase the supply of affordable housing to minimize the current crisis.

Based on the Low-Income Housing Act of 1989, corporations and investors can receive tax credits for investments in building low-income housing across the country. These tax credits are a popular tool to provide millions of dollars to developers for the design and construction of low-income housing. There are two primary vehicles for LIHTC: 4 percent bonds and 9 percent investment credits. While both provide funding for low-income housing projects, the type you chose will depend on your project.

Although some of the 4 percent projects are new developments, most are acquisition/rehabilitation projects. These renovation projects typically prove to be less costly per unit but also are common in areas where low-income housing is not in as much demand. The more lucrative 9 percent investment credits are more ideal for new construction as they cover a larger percentage of development costs.

Unfortunately, these tax credits are severely underfunded. The current federal budget allocates around $9 billion nationally for these tax credits. Because these funds are so limited, the guidelines and applications for all LIHTC projects are comprehensive and onerous. Its important to ensure what little funding there is goes to projects that are built efficiently, both for cost and energy. But knowing why others have been turned away can give great insight to fine-tune a potential project and better your chances of receiving these tax credits.

Private developers can increase their opportunity to receive LIHTC credits and thus increase the supply of low-income housing by reducing costs. Perhaps the best route for a developer to take is to lower construction costs through thoughtful construction management and design. One such way to decrease construction costs is by minimizing the number of trades used to build a housing project, therefore increasing efficiency. Most housing developments take a minimum of fifteen separate trades to complete a home or apartment building and this inefficiency adds cost to the project. While it may be difficult to modify the traditional trade skills, by self-performing a few of the trades, general contractors can reduce some of the cost.

Developers should also consider modular construction as an opportunity to decrease construction costs as well as delivery time. While this technique is not new and is used in many areas of the country, the wide-spread use of modular construction is hampered by a lack of production companies. Going this route means committing to a contractor well in advance of the construction start to get in their production schedules. But the ability to construct wall and floor panels in an enclosed factory setting allows progress to continue during inclement weather. The precision of factory construction should save some time in the field. The walls and floors can even be pre-fabricated with electrical and plumbing rough-ins, thus saving additional time.

Developers should request energy efficient design in all their projects. The current codes require tight building envelopes, but do not require net-zero energy or use of renewable energy for the buildings power source. The overall cost of maintaining and managing the new affordable developments would decrease if this were the case.

Mixed-use developments, primarily consisting of retail below housing, is a great solution for affordable housing developments because the retail uses in the building will most likely be beneficial to the residents. This could reduce transportation cost and energy usage. The retail portion of the development is not typically funded by the LIHTC. However, if the project is large enough (over $5 million on the commercial uses), they could qualify for New Market tax credits, another government-sponsored funding source.

Of course, the best way to ensure affordable housing projects receive funding is to ensure the right people are in office to increase budgets to these programs. When it comes time to cast your vote, be sure to investigate the candidates stance on affordable housing and zoning. But in the meantime, these energy- and cost-effective solutions can help developers navigate the current LIHTC situation and improve their chances of receiving these credits, thus chipping away at the current affordable housing crisis.

About the Author

David Kennedy has nearly 40 years of experience working on a variety of project types, including multi-family, healthcare, office and retail. Projects have included affordable housing units, mixed-income developments and high-rise apartments. As a Senior Architect at Bailey Edward, David has led design teams, business development efforts, client management and staff development on projects. He is a thoughtful architect of the highest integrity who invests his time and vision greatly into the projects he leads.

Read more here:

Solving the housing attainability crisis - REjournals.com

ELKHART, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII) (the Company) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI), a supplier of a broad array of highly engineered components for the leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the recreation and transportation product markets, and the related aftermarkets of those industries, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CURT Group (CURT), a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded towing products and truck accessories for the aftermarket, for approximately $340 million. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

With a strong reputation for product innovation, engineering, and brand excellence, we look forward to welcoming CURT President Rock Lambert and his team to the LCI family. Culturally, CURT is a strong fit, with a deep focus on delivering innovative products and an unwavering commitment to quality and superior customer service. Its highly complementary portfolio, combined with its strong brands and extensive distribution network, will significantly expand our addressable market. With a track record of delivering remarkable financial performance and strong cash flow generation, we believe that the addition of CURT will further advance our long-term growth strategy to bring our core competencies to new, attractive markets and diversify our business to drive outperformance throughout the cycle, said Jason Lippert, CEO and President of LCI.

CURT, headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, maintains a robust product portfolio comprised of thousands of SKUs across various product lines, including hitches, towing electricals, ball mounts, and cargo management. CURT boasts a significant market position, owning and operating a stable of leading brands, including CURT, Aries, Luverne, Retrac, and UWS. Leveraging a multi-channel model, CURT serves customers across e-commerce, direct-to-installer, and distribution channels. In addition, CURT has a wide distribution network, with centers strategically located throughout the U.S. to serve its North American customers. For the 12-month period ended September 30, 2019, CURT delivered approximately $255 million of revenue.

With its proven track record of building high-quality products and successfully sourcing and integrating companies, LCI is an ideal partner for us. Both LCI and CURT have strong reputations and positions fostered through a culture of innovation, history of high-quality products, customer satisfaction and retention, and manufacturing excellence. We look forward to joining the team and further positioning the business for long-term success, said Rock Lambert, CEO of CURT Group.

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP is serving as LCIs legal advisor on the transaction.

Summary Terms of Agreement and Financing

Webcast and Conference Call Information

LCI will host a conference call beginning at 8:30 AM EST on Friday, November 22, 2019. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (888) 525-0270 for participants in the U.S./Canada or (704) 935-3405 for participants outside the U.S./Canada using the required conference ID 9190245. Alternatively, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by logging on to the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at https://lci1.com/investors/. A replay of the webcast will also be archived on the Companys website for a period of twelve months following the release.

About LCI Industries

From over 70 manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout North America and Europe, LCI Industries, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, LCI, supplies, domestically and internationally, a broad array of highly engineered components for the leading OEMs in the recreation and transportation product markets, consisting of recreational vehicles and adjacent industries, including buses; trailers used to haul boats, livestock, equipment, and other cargo; trucks; boats; trains; manufactured homes; and modular housing. The Company also supplies engineered components to the related aftermarkets of these industries primarily by selling to retail dealers, wholesale distributors, and service centers. LCIs products include steel chassis and related components; axles and suspension solutions; slide-out mechanisms and solutions; thermoformed bath, kitchen, and other products; vinyl, aluminum, and frameless windows; manual, electric, and hydraulic stabilizer and leveling systems; entry, luggage, patio, and ramp doors; furniture and mattresses; electric and manual entry steps; awnings and awning accessories; electronic components; appliances; televisions, sound systems, navigation systems, and backup cameras; and other accessories. Additional information about LCI and its products can be found at http://www.lci1.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements including with respect to the expected timing of the closing of the transaction, the expected financial impact and accretive nature of the transaction, the expected sources of funds for the transaction, the expected impact of the proposed transaction on the Companys operations, markets, prospects, strategies and efficiencies, and other matters. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the Companys senior management at the time such statements were made. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, in addition to other matters described in this press release, (i) conditions to the closing of the transaction may not be satisfied; (ii) the transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (iii) the Companys business or stock price may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (iv) the Company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies from the transaction within the expected time frames or at all; (v) the Company may be unable to successfully integrate CURTs operations into its own, or such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; (vi) following the transaction, revenues may be lower than expected, and operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the transaction; (viii) the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (ix) risks that the pending transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the pending transaction; (x) other risks to consummation of the transaction, including the risk that the transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; and (xi) the risks described from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading Risk Factors, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other of the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which such statements were made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date.

Go here to read the rest:

Lippert Components Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire CURT Group, a Leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Branded Towing Products and Truck...

The housing crisis, skills shortages and a lack of affordable homes continue to plague the UK. While both housebuilders and policymakers grapple with solutions to build new homes quickly, modular construction has been hailed by many in the industry as a possible answer to solve some of these challenges.

Modular construction is a process which involves constructing elements of a building offsite in a factory-controlled setting before being transported to site for assembly.

The process uses the same materials, standards and codes as conventionally built facilities and is undertaken under controlled plant conditions, but the process is completed in around half the time.

The buildings are produced in modules that are put together on site.

There are two types of modular constructions; permanent modular constructions and relocatable buildings.

Client: Housing 21

Construction firm: M-AR Off-Site LtdandHenry Riley LLP

Location:Richard Onslow Court and Ward Court Shrewsbury and Brighouse

The two modular developments include one-bedroom apartments and bungalows specifically for people over the age of 55.

The homes are complete with kitchens and shower rooms and were transported by road, before being lifted into position where external finish and roof construction took place. The Shrewsbury part of the project was delivered on-time, on-budget, without defects and within 26 weeks.

Client: Livin

Construction firm: Tolent, manufactured by ilke Homes

Location: Newton Aycliffe, Durham

In one day, two modularhomes were delivered and assembled on site

Six modular homes made up of the ground floor, first floor and roof sections were delivered to the site and installed into position to create a pair of two-bedroom homes.

Not only did the process speed up the delivery of the homes, but they also boast a greater energy efficiency rating. As a result, tenants of the modular homes in Newton Aycliffe could save up to 20% on their utility bills compared to new build homes built traditionally.

Client: Homes England

Construction firm: Urban Splash

Location: Northstowe, South Cambridgeshire

81 of the 406 modular homes onthe Northstowe development are set to be council homes. The homes are being created as part ofHomes Englandsfirst neighbourhood at Northstowe.

All of the 81 modular homes will be either one or two-bed properties and will be available at an affordable rent, including 60 that will be age-exclusive apartments for the over 55s.

The successful bid for the 81 modular homes will enableSouth Cambridgeshire District Councilto deliver its objectives to double the number of energy-efficient council homes it builds annually and to provide homes that are affordable to live in.

It is anticipated that work will begin on the Urban Splash homes in spring 2020.

Client: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Construction firm: Swan Housing Association

Location: Watts Grove, London

The first of the Swan Housing Associations modular homes have already been delivered to theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets making Watts Grove the UKs first mid-rise Cross Laminated Timber(CLT) modular scheme.

Watts Grove will deliver 45 much needed one, two and three-bedroomed shared ownership apartments in Bow, alongside the provision of affordable and social rented units. The scheme is a car-free development within walking distance of the DLR and underground lines, set around landscaped courtyard gardens which will open up the connection between Gale Street and Watts Grove for the wider community.

The homes will be built in Swan Housings offsite modular housing factory, using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and then delivered and assembled on site. This will reduce the build time and the environmental impact on the area. Work started on site in June 2018.

Client: Bristol City Council

Construction firm: BoKlok (IKEA & Skanska)

Location: Bristol

BoKlok UK Ltd has announced plans to develop 200 modular homes in south Bristol with Bristol City Council.

The proposed offsite housing development will be the firstBoKlokcommunity in Bristol. Around 140 of the homes will be for market sale under the BoKlok brand. The remaining homes will be for social rent and shared ownership.

Subject to planning permission, construction of the offsite housing is expected to start in autumn 2020.

Client: Southwark Council

Construction firm: Not yet confirmed

Location: Southwark

Southwark Council has agreed a programme to deliver modular, upward extensions on existing housing blocks in the borough.

To minimise opposition from people living in affected blocks, the authority has put together a set of rooftop development principles. It will crane in the offsite built homes to keep the development process as short as possible and give first refusal on the new units to tenants living directly below them.

The council will also deliver improvements to the existing blocks without charging leaseholders for new roofing, lifts or landscaping. Leaseholders will also be offered the opportunity to obtain a share in one of the new homes, with no rent paid on the part they do not own.

The council are set to start exploring which of its blocks could be suitable for upward extensions, whilst also developing a rooftop design guide.

Client: Magna Housing

Construction firm: Rollalong

Location: Dorset and Somerset

Housing association, Magna Housing, announced plans to build more affordable homes in Dorset and Somerset for people to rent and buy and is taking a modular, offsite approach to deliver this.

Rollalong, an offsite design and build contractors in the south, supported these plans. Their in-house design team developed four housing designs for the initial order of 25 homes that were completed in October 2019, ready for onsite installation.

It is anticipated that the first new homeowners or tenants will take up residency in early 2020.

Client: Cole Waterhouse

Construction firm: Bowmer + Kirkland & Caledonian

Location: First Way Campus in Wembley

Bowmer + Kirklandbegan craning the first of the 438 offsite manufactured modules into a new 54m student accommodation scheme in Londons Wembley, in September.

First Way Campus is a 678-bedroom student accommodation scheme being developed by Cole Waterhouse to provide accommodation for the University College of Football Business (UCFB) and Unite Student Living.

The offsite developed modules, which make up the bedrooms, corridors and kitchens of the project, will continue to be lifted into place at a rate of six per day with the last modules being installed by January 2020.

The modules have been built over the last twelve months by Caledonian in Newark. To prepare for the installation, Bowmer + Kirkland installed 403 continuous flight augering (CFA) piles, installed piles caps and then erected a structural steel core. The steel core has also been fire protected prior to the module installation.

Client: Homes England/Places for People

Construction firm: ilke Homes

Location: Blackburn

73 affordable modular homes are to be created close to Blackburn town centre as part of a deal between Places for People and Homes England.

Funded through Places for Peoples Strategic Partnership with Homes England, the development will bring new timber-framed homes to a site off Alaska Street.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application reads: The opportunity to introduced quality new social housing on a highly accessible site close to Blackburn town centre and adjacent to Highfield Park.

The development of a mix of good quality of two, three and four-bedroom homes, which will broad the choice of attractive, good quality, modern housing in the area.

These are just a few of the innovative and modern developments sweeping the nation. As the buzz around modular construction builds so too will this list.

Think you know of a modular housing scheme in the UK that we may have missed, email our digital editor Steph at sblundell@pbctoday.co.uk.

The rest is here:

The modular homes leading the way in the UK - Planning, BIM & Construction Today

The Y Lot (Ben Allan Smith | The Ann Arbor News)

Editor's note: This story was updated to include an additional resolution on the agenda.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor could move quickly to develop more affordable housing.

City Council will consider seven resolutions Monday, Nov. 18 related to possible affordable housing developments on city-owned plots.

Of 11 potential development locations submitted for review, city staff found sites at 121 E. Catherine St. and 404 N. Ashley St. were immediately ready to be developed as affordable housing, according to an analysis to be presented Monday by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission.

The analysis includes proposed development designs prepared by Carlisle Wortman Associates.

Under one resolution, City Council would direct the housing commission to pursue development at those two spots. Five other resolutions call for development depending on funding, more study or community engagement on a number of other sites. Another resolution calls for 353 S. Main St. to be analyzed for affordable housing possibilities. A separate resolution asks for the privately owned 2857 Packard Street to be similarly evaluated.

City Council in April directed city staff to work with the housing commission and Washtenaw County's Office for Community and Economic Development to evaluate select city-owned properties for possible development of affordable housing.

Ann Arbor adds to list of potential affordable housing sites

Council OKs affordable housing incentives for Ann Arbor developers

Council wants the city maintain ownership of the properties and for developers to accept Housing Choice Vouchers and offer affordable rates for renters making 60 percent of the area median income or less - about $60,720 a year or less for a family of four in Washtenaw County.

Three potential portfolio scenarios for the sites will be presented Monday, according to the resolutions on the council agenda.

They come as the city launches a public engagement process in December on affordable housing and the development of two city-owned vacant lots that were evaluated - 350 S. Fifth Ave., known as the Y Lot, and 425 W. Washington St.

Here's a breakdown of city staff's findings and recommendations so far:

121 E. Catherine St. possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

121 E. Catherine St. and 404 N. Ashley St.

Both 121 E. Catherine St. and 404 N. Ashley St. are ready for development, according to city staff.

They're recommending City Council direct the housing commission to develop the sites, zoned D2 for medium-density mixed residential and commercial development, utilizing a ground lease after the appropriate environmental reviews, site plan approvals and applications for funding are filed.

An estimated 120 to 170 units combined of affordable housing, targeting those making 60% of the area median income, could be developed, according to the resolution.

An evaluation found both sites have high potential to receive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and other federal and state funds for affordable housing, according to the resolution. They're also in the Downtown Development Authority district and eligible to receive financial support from the authority.

404 N. Ashley St. possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

"If tax credits are secured for both sites, the sites could be developed with very little local financial support compared to the other sites," according to the resolution.

The location on Catherine Street - currently a parking lot - would take an estimated $15.3 million to develop.

The Ashley Street location - currently under lease by the University of Michigan for its Community Dental Clinic - could take $17.8 million to develop.

2000 S. Industrial Hwy. possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

2000 S. Industrial Hwy.

A four-acre parcel of land, currently zoned as public land, could garner 50 to 165 affordable housing units if sufficient funds are found, the city review found.

The spot on Industrial Highway is currently used for the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, part of the water system, parking and warehouse storage.

Due to its location next to a railroad, the property could not get Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in support of households making 60% of the area median income, according to the analysis.

Still, development could be possible through housing revenue bonds, the sale of other public land - such as the Kline lot - and other local funding sources, according to a memorandum.

2000 S. Industrial Hwy. (Google Maps)

The affordable housing would target households making up to 80% of the area median income, or $80,960 for a family of four.

City Council is asked to direct the housing commission to develop it's office, maintenance facilities and the affordable housing units, dependent on obtaining the funding, conducting environmental reviews and getting site plan approval.

A memorandum for the resolution suggests City Council could, alternatively or in addition to, direct staff to conduct more analysis on possible funding for mixed-income housing and units targeting those making 60% of the area median income.

The estimated cost of development is $37 million.

Kline lot possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

The Kline lot

The Kline lot at Ashley and William streets could garner a whopping 400 to 600 or more housing units, along with retail space, according to city staff analysis.

However, based on the size, it's likely that a private developer's aid or a sale would be necessary to develop the site.

The property, in D1 zoning for high-density mixed use, is about 1.25 acres in size and scored highly competitive for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, but would be well over the funding cap set by the tax credits.

If the maximum tax credits were obtained, it would allow for 125 tax credit units and 475 market-rate units, according to a memorandum. Otherwise, proceeds from a sale to a private developer could subsidize other development projects that are less competitive for the tax credits.

The Kline lot (Google Maps)

The site would take an estimated $136 million to develop and is appraised at about $13.7 million is sold.

However, the loss of parking from the site could have a large impact on downtown.

City Council has been asked to direct city staff to work with the DDA on community engagement for the development of the Kline lot as well as the nearby lot at First and William streets.

216 W. William St. (Google Maps)

Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

First and William streets

The less-than-an-acre parking lot at First and William streets, zoned D2, is not suitable for housing because it's entirely in a floodway and floodplain, city analysis showed.

However, city staff have offered a resolution on the site, with an eye to its relation to the Kline lot. In short, it could be used to support the parking needs that developing the Kline lot would require.

A parking deck built on the property would cost less than building an underground parking deck at the Kline lot, according to a memorandum. It can be designed to leave room for a greenway along First Street.

City Council has been asked to direct city staff to work with the DDA on community engagement for the Kline lot and the First and William streets lot, combined.

721 N. Main St. (Google Maps)

721 N. Main St.

Only a small portion of the 5.26-acre site, zoned for public land, at 721 N. Main St. is suitable for housing, the city analysis found.

The site is close to a railroad and has a deed restriction prohibiting any development, even a parking lot, on the floodplain and floodway on the site, according to a memorandum. Most the site is floodplain and floodway.

However, 25 to 35 housing units could be developed on the northwest corner of the property, off West Summit Street.

The site of the City of Ann Arbor Fleet Services building, 721 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor Wednesday, March 6 2019. (Jacob Hamilton | MLive)

This site is not eligible for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit or other federal funding, and alternative funds would be needed to develop the land, the analysis found. Otherwise, the property could be leased with an affordable housing requirement or be sold to subsidize other affordable housing projects.

Development would cost an estimated $7.6 million, The site's appraised value if sold still needs to be determined, but is estimated at $400,000 to $600,000.

City Council has been asked to direct the city administrator to work with the DDA, the Tree Line Conservancy and others to pursue community engagement on the use of the site.

Platt Road and Springbrook Street possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

Platt Road and Springbrook Street

The four city-owned parcels of land at 3400 block of Platt Road and 3400 block of Springbrook Street could support up to 14 single-family affordable housing units, according to a memorandum.

The parcels, totaling about 1.3 acres, sit across from existing subsidized housing and near single-family homes.

It likely wouldn't get Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and would need significant local subsidy to be developed, city staff found.

3440 Platt Road (Google Maps)

City staff has looked into selling the property to Habitat for Humanity with a resale restriction in favor of long-term affordable housing or developing small, zero-energy modular houses.

The site would cost an estimated $3.1 million to develop and is appraised at $560,000 if sold.

City staff want City Council to direct additional community engagement on the site.

1510 E. Stadium Blvd. possible development (Courtesy of Carlisle Wortman Associates)

1510 E. Stadium Blvd.

A .75-acre plot at 1510 E. Stadium Blvd. isn't a high priority option for affordable housing, according to city staff.

They're eyeing the land, which currently has a former fire station, for temporary or permanent Ann Arbor Housing Commission offices, a maintenance garage or other city offices, as an alternative to the 2000 S. Industrial Hwy.

The location could support eight to 12 affordable housing units but isn't a competitive option for low-income tax credits and would require significant local subsidy for development, according to a memorandum.

Development would cost an estimated $3.1 million.

City Council is asked to direct the housing commission to hire an architect to determine the cost of renovating the existing building and adding an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant addition, then report back.

1320 Baldwin Avenue (Google Maps)

1320 Baldwin Avenue

The current site of the Ann Arbor Senior Center is a no-go for affordable housing, as far as city staff is concerned.

It's park property, would require a ballot approval to change its allowed use and has a Michigan Department of Environment Quality restriction, according to staff analysis. The senior center also would be lost through development.

The Y Lot is at 350 S. Fifth Ave. (Google Maps)

Five, four-hour community discussion sessions are scheduled on the topic of developing 350 S. Fifth Ave. and 415 W. Washington St.

The 2.2-acre property at 415 W. Washington St., zoned D2, includes a floodplain and floodway, according to the county's Office of Community and Economic Development. It also has a blighted building, is in a historic district, could qualify as a brownfield site and has a railroad noise hazard.

City staff previously recommended a public-private partnership to develop the long-debated 0.8-acre parcel known as the Y Lot at 350 S. Fifth Ave. They called for the city, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, the Ann Arbor District Library and the DDA to create 100 to 200 units of affordable housing and space for community events and meetings.

Ann Arbor OKs contracts for community-driven Y Lot concepts

The development would include the Y Lot, the library's property at 343 S. Fifth Ave. and the Blake Transit Center on South Fifth Avenue.

The DDA pledged $745,000 toward the creation of affordable housing on the property, zoned D1, and the City Council in July agreed to hire local consultant SmithGroup Inc. to develop concepts for the lot.

The city agreed to move $75,000 from the general fund to the planning fund for the cause, with the expectation that $50,000 will be paid back by the AAATA and the DDA.

Blighted property at 415 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor, on Oct. 11, 2017. (Ryan Stanton | MLive)

415 W. Washington St. and the Y Lot

The community discussions will take place:

Those unable to attend a discussion can share feedback on the project webpage or send questions to Derek Delacourt, City of Ann Arbor community services administrator, at

.

353 S. Main St. (Google Maps)

If City Council approves a resolution Monday, the city-owned parking lot at 353 S. Main St. will be evaluated for possible affordable housing.

2857 Packard Street (Google Maps)

If City Council approves a resolution Monday, the privately owned property at 2857 Packard St. will be evaluated for possible affordable housing.

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Ann Arbor could develop 2 affordable housing sites ASAP, analysis finds - MLive.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Family Promise, national non-profit, and Clayton, one of the nation's off-site and on-site home builders, have announced their partnership called A Future Begins at Home. This partnership represents a robust and innovative initiative to create a prevention and stabilization housing program, which Family Promise affiliates can use nationwide when assisting local families in need.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8481356-clayton-homes-and-family-promise-announce-partnership-2019/

Both organizations believe that by addressing the underlying causes of homelessness and the affordable housing crisis together, communities take one step toward becoming a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood and the chance to build a better future.

"Family Promise's holistic approach to the crisis of family homelessness includes three key areas of focus: prevention, shelter and stabilization,"said Claas Ehlers,CEO of Family Promise. "And with this partnership with Clayton, we are moving families from being homeless to homeowners and helping them to create sustainable independence."

The partnership supports Family Promise's approach to not just care for families actively experiencing homelessness, but to also support families facing housing instability. A Future Begins at Homeintegrates:

Another element of the partnership is that Clayton has periodically gifted off-site built homes to formerly homeless Family Promise families as a permanent housing solution. Since the partnership was first announced in 2018, the latest family to receive a home was in October 2019. After leaving a negative relationship, Sara Warren, a Colorado Springs single-mom of two young children struggled to find employment and shelter for her family. With the support of her local Family Promise affiliate, she was able to secure a fulfilling job and provide stability for her kids. She achieved the dream of homeownership when she was gifted a Clayton Built home located in Rocky Mountain Homeowners Co-Op, a resident-owned community, part of the national ROC USA network.

"ROC USA Network and its Colorado affiliate Thistle Communities were thrilled to be able to participate with Family Promise and Clayton in the effort to deliver the Warren family a new home," said Paul Bradley, president of ROC USA. "By joining the Rocky Mountain resident-owned community, Sara and her children are receiving the gift of sustainable homeownership in a supportive community."

"We are so passionate about the mission to end family homelessness, and it's an honor to join Family Promise in this important partnership and further Clayton's commitment to opening doors to a better life through attainable homeownership," said Susan Brown, director of philanthropy for Clayton. "We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve homeownership and have a safe, secure home of their own."

With family homelessness showing no signs of lessening, A Future Begins at Home is critical to Family Promise's next phase of work. Together with Clayton, the organization can reach its goal to serve an additional 10,000 children by 2021, and work toward its aspiration to serve 1 million children by 2030 so that every family has a home, a livelihood and the chance to build a better future.

ABOUT CLAYTONFounded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness through homeownership. As a diverse home builder committed to quality and durability, Clayton offers traditional site-built homes and off-site built housing, including modular homes, manufactured homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments. In 2018, Clayton delivered 47,570 homes to families across America. Clayton is a Berkshire Hathaway company. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

ABOUT FAMILY PROMISEFamily Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers and served more than 125,000 family members in 2018. Family Promise will change the future for 1 million children by 2030. For more information about Family Promise, please visit FamilyPromise.org

ABOUT ROC USAROC USA, headquartered in Concord, NH, has a mission of preserving affordable communities by making resident ownership of manufactured home communities (or, "mobile home parks") viable and successful nationwide. ROC USA and its two subsidiaries, ROC USA Network and ROC USA Capital was launched May of 2008 and today serves 248 co-op communities and 17,000 homeowner/Members in 17 states. ROCUSA.org

Media ContactKelly Andrewskelly@hlstrategy.com

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Family Promise and Clayton Announce 'A Future Begins at Home' Partnership to Help Prevent and End Family Homelessness - The Grand Junction Daily...

Earlier this year, the mayors task force on homelessness released a report identifying costs to construct a 15-unit building for permanent supportive housing. Construction costs were estimated at $4.5 million, or $300,000 per unit.

The proposed modular homes on the other hand, are much more affordable. One tiny homes builder in Puslinch priced a fully-furnished 160 sq/ft home at around $26,000 per unit. At this price, the units would be affordable to someone receiving the monthly housing allowance provided by Ontario Works ($390 for one person).

The property staff were asked to investigate as a potential site for the harm reduction housing project.

Bryan McPherson, a homeowner near Beaumont, said he likes the concept of using tiny homes to address homelessness, but just not at this site. In other cities, like Vancouver or in Europe, these projects work well, but the approach is so different, he said.

They integrate containers into mixed-income neighbourhoods with amenities, so it provides them with more of a chance for social cohesion and rehabilitation.

The site on Beaumont has no access to medical services, he said. Theres no community kitchen for skills upgrading. There are no grocery stores nearby, or sidewalks for pedestrians. The bus comes every 30 minutes, and there are children in the area that actively use the green space as a park.

He said the focus of this housing project should be integration, not segregation, noting the neighbourhood around Beaumont is already made up of people living in rent-geared-to-income (at 780 York Road) and affordable housing (Habitat for Humanitys Cityview Village).

So youre putting people on the fringe with people on the fringe.

When asked about a better suited site, he suggested the recently completed Market Parkade.

We paid $22 million for a parking garage that is empty If they really want to address this situation now, thats how you do it.

Other nearby residents voiced opposition to the proposal, highlighting concerns of theft and a potential decrease in property values if the project were to go ahead at this site.

This is a peek inside a modular home built at a property in Puslinch. The harm reduction housing team toured the site earlier this fall. | Chris Seto/Torstar

Mayor Cam Guthrie said he plans on proposing some tweaks to the motion that identifies Beaumont as a site to be looked at when the issue comes to council on Monday. Most notably, this would include removing the specificity of naming Beaumont and expand the search to other city-owned properties.

I think my amendments are really needed to be able to broaden the discussion on sites across the city, but also to make sure that the right wraparound social services would be available for wherever this may be, he said.

While this change would only explore city-owned properties, Guthrie said it would also send up the signal to private partners who may want to take part in the project.

The other major change is around timing. The committee resolution requested staff report back by January. Guthries new motion would extend that to the early spring.

Despite the delay, Guthrie said this would be enough time to have the project up and running in time for next winter.

Adrienne Crowder, manager of the Guelph Wellington Drug Strategy, leads the harm reduction housing team. She said the mayors suggestion to seek out other viable properties was welcome the more options for potential sites, the better.

The site at 106 Beaumont was identified because it was the only empty parcel of land found in a recent city report on municipal assets. She said it was regrettable that neighbours had to learn about the city's potential investigation through media reports.

Balancing the needs of communities while finding ways to bring forward new social housing initiatives is part of a national conversation, she said.

The intact community around Beaumont Crescent has needs that would need to be incorporated into how something would move forward.

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She said the project team is exploring all options to find a site for this project. Its even open to considering other models of harm reduction housing and not using retrofitted shipping containers.

The biggest challenge in Guelph is theres no available housing stock, she said. By turning shipping containers into modular homes, new housing stock is created quickly and at a relatively low cost.

Looking at lines on the municipal budget, the $600,000 requested to build 10 units is relatively small compared to other items, she said. By housing the citys most vulnerable, this may also have an impact on improving community safety.

If community safety is a big concern for our community, this is a way that tries to get to some of the root causes of what is creating the lack of safety.

The issue will be discussed at the city council meeting on Monday Nov. 25 and anyone is welcome to attend.

To register as a delegate for this meeting, contact the city clerks office no later that 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 by going online to guelph.ca/delegate, calling the clerks office at 519-837-5603, TTY at 519-826-9771, or sending an email to clerks@guelph.ca.

with files from Graeme McNaughton

See original here:

East Guelph residents push back against proposed harm reduction housing site - GuelphMercury.com

WITH RENTS AND HOUSE prices still climbing, Irelands housing crisis isnt going away anytime soon. To find some answers, the country might need some new perspectives.

We believe that there is a tendency to assume that everybodys ideal house is a three-bedroom semi (detached) with a front garden and back garden. Where actually preferences and demographics are shifting to the point where people want very different things, Stephen Bell, the chief executive of development financing firm Cullaun Capital, said.

Bell spoke to Fora as his firm released a report with recommendations made by panellists at a conference held by Cullaun and highlighted a need to change policy to create a variety of accommodation options.

We wanted to open up a dialogue where people talk about those different things, whether that be co-living, private rented sector, nursing homes and all sorts of different things that still constitutes a place that somebody might call home, he said.

Recommendations

Mike Flannery, chief executive of Bartra Capital, said that new categories of houses were needed on the market to accommodate a younger generation that lives on their own into their thirties and can fit into smaller spaces with better facilities.

Both Flannery andArthur OBrien, the managing director at C+W OBrien Architects, noted that new housing configurations are badly needed to meet changing demographic needs.

According to the panel, younger people dont want a long commute to work in urban centres, for both personal and environmental reasons, and also dont necessarily buy into the culture of ownership that once dominated Ireland.

Ireland is only at about 60% urbanisation, compared with a likely typical average of 80%elsewhere. We are going to have to change the whole range of typology. It is not possible with all the willin the world to give everyone a front garden, a back garden and three bedrooms, Flannery said.

According to property website Daft.ies latest rental figures, the average monthly rent has risen to 1,403 per month in the third quarter of this year. Figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate house prices have risen nationally by 85.2% and in Dublin by 95% since 2013.

To help alleviate demand, Ireland could copy New Zealand and introduced bonds to incentivise smaller housebuilders, according to Brian McEnery, a partner and head of healthcare at accountancy firm BDO Dublin and a former director at Nama.

Housing is very, very complex. Its behavioural, its economic, its developmental and its governmental. And it takes time. When the pipeline stopped during the crisis, as it did very abruptly, it is slow to rebuild, McEnery said.

In 2018, there were more than18,000 units built in Ireland and around 21,000 are estimated to be completed by the end of the year.

New Zealand has also rezoned land to have seven years of supply in the pipeline, which is similar to Irelands need, he said.

Derek Poppinga, the managing director at real estate investment and development firm Mm Capital, said the cost of inflation was one of the biggest challenges facing the sector and added that modular housing should be a serious consideration.

He said this cant be achieved at the moment because of a skills gap and added that more resources need to go toward training to attract more people and innovation into the industry.

Fidelma McManus, partner at law firm Beauchamps, said there was a need for affordable public rental houses and pointed to Viennas model, where the city keeps rent low by owning 220,000 homes, with a further 200,000 provided by limited-profit housing associations.

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To solve the housing crisis, Ireland needs to think beyond the three-bedroom house - Fora.ie

After weeks of work, a team of elementary school students will put a wide-range of skills on display this weekend when they take their city shaping, affordable housing and interpersonal skills with hopes of advancing past the first round of the annual First Lego League competition.

The UCode Lego team, which has been meeting for two months at UCodes Ithaca Mall location and working on the project, includes four students from two local schools. Avital Sagan, Shaan Jena and Eafan Chen all go to Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School, while Robert Kong attends Northeast Elementary School. They are coached by David Sagan, a Cornell physicist and senior research associate. The competition is being held this weekend in Corning, with 17 teams competing from around the region. If the UCode team is able to place in the top 40 percent of participants, they move onto the next round of competitors. UCode is a learning program that teaches kids coding and computer programming, among other tech-centric skills.

The team has been working to construct a course and program a robot since the summer. The robot is controlled by a computer that the kids have pre-programmed, mapping out its movements around a city that they have constructed using Legos. The course includes several tasks that the robot, which is also made of Legos, should accomplish, including releasing a swingset and dropping an anvil, among others. The students have 90 seconds to complete all this, meaning they cant waste much time with mistakes or missed tasks.

It all depends how efficient we are, Jena said at a recent practice.

The number of tasks they are able to accomplish are worth certain amounts of points that are added together to compile a final score, along with points picked up from other competition criteria. The robotics aspect makes up one of the three total portions of the competition. The other two are called Core Values, which measures how the teammates interact with each other and the way they handle respecting the other teams while in competition with them, and Innovation Project.

The Innovation Project requires teams to identify a societal problem and then create a solution for it, quite separate from the robot competition. Ithacans ought to be familiar with the problem the team chose to tackle: affordable housing. With so much discussion about that, though, the team wanted to choose a new potential approach to the problem, which led them to settle on a new kind of construction, modular housing, instead of the more conventionally discussed options. The team prepared a PowerPoint presentation, with each member researching and making a different slide, to explain their solution.

Modular housing is made off-site in a factory, then transported to its site and placed on a permanent foundation. This is what separates it from mobile homes, as once they are set in place the intention is for them to stay there long-term. Modular housing is noted for its affordability, since their production is cheaper than on-site home construction, and also its energy-efficiency advantages that are usually included during its factory construction. The team said they felt that modular housing isnt as discussed as other affordable housing solutions, and so, to keep with their intention of thinking outside the box, they chose it as their solution.

We wanted to help the homeless, but we already have a homeless shelter here, Avital Sagan said. So we did research, and modular housing seems kind of underrated.

Confidence is important as well. So, does the team think they will be able to win? When asked, the answer is a resounding no. Then a small pause. As they test the robot, theyre right, sometimes it doesnt work; twice in a row its motions are not strong enough to set the chain of events in motion that will drop the anvil as it is supposed to do. On the third attempt, it works, drawing small cheers from Kong and Jena as they watch.

Its important to have positive expectations, Avital Sagan said.

The rest is here:

UCode youth team takes aim at robotics and affordable housing - ithaca.com