The first workshop of the BRAND West initiative highlighted several tools to address the country’s growing housing crisis. While all the speakers expressed optimism about the potential of these tools, they also emphasized the serious consequences of inaction.
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“I just keep asking the question, are we going to be the first generation in the history of the United States to make life worse for our kids and grandkids?” Utah Governor Spencer Cox rhetorically asked the crowd of housing experts at the University of Utah’s Hinkley Institute of Politics. “Right now, the answer appears to be yes across much of the United States.”
“There's nothing more important right now than what you're doing,” he continued. “This is legacy stuff... This is the work that will change lives. More than anything else we do in government work, this is the stuff that can pay off for a long, long time to come.”
Steve Waldrip, the Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy & Innovation for the Office of Utah Governor Spencer Cox, reinforced his boss's sentiment during a panel discussion entitled "Unlocking Capital for Housing Development."
“The reality is this; housing is no longer a policy issue, it's no longer a political issue, it's become a moral issue,” he said. “We talk about this ability for people to pursue happiness, this social contract that we have with our kids and our grandkids that if you do these things, then you get the American dream, but we have a generation coming up right now that is going, ‘I’ve done all these things, and I’m looking at the future and I don’t see the dream,’ and that’s a moral hazard for our country... it will be a debilitating problem in the future if we don't solve it today.”
To address this issue, he suggested that 'everyone take a step towards the middle.”
“We all have to step into the middle and not hold out on the edges for your best deal,” he said. “Developers have got to make money or they can't pay their people, who then can't afford houses, but they don't have to maximize. They don't have to push it to the edges.”
To ensure the continued realization of the American Dream, panelists also discussed leveraging infrastructure investments to spur new housing projects, coordinating state and local housing priorities, and transforming buildings through adaptive reuse.
Additionally, workshop attendees got a chance to discuss strategies for improving zoning regulations and navigating public opinion to create mixed-use developments – a topic they got to further explore during a tour of Daybreak, a 4,100-acre master-planned community located in South Jordan, Utah, that has become a model for effectively managing regional growth and meeting housing demands through mixed-use development and innovative placemaking.
“It’s not easy,” Dawn Ramsey, the Mayor of South Jordan, said when discussing the implementation of the mixed-use developments proposed in Daybreak’s master plan. “You have to have the right policies in place and you have to create a vision. What I can say is that, 20 years into this project, it has made our city better, absolutely.”
To watch recordings from any of the panels, click on the titles below.
Finally, be sure to register for the second BRAND West initative workshop, which will take place at the Oxford Hotel in Bend, Oregon on January 15 and 16.
As the West rapidly evolves, thoughtful planning is increasingly important for creating vibrant, livable communities. This panel examined how mixed-use development – the integration of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces – can address pressing housing needs, enhance local economies, and support smart and sustainable growth.
Planning Infrastructure Investments
Scarce resources and critical infrastructure constraints often hinder housing development. This session explored these barriers and analyze opportunities to leverage infrastructure investments to spur new housing projects.
Unlocking Capital for Housing Development
With communities across the West grappling with housing shortages following decades of underbuilding and underinvestment, expanding housing supply and accessibility has never been more essential. This panel examined financing strategies and funding mechanisms designed to accelerate development for middle-income housing, improve housing affordability, and respond to growing demands.
Governor’s Conversation: Housing in Utah
States are highly invested in improving access to attainable housing and promoting smart and sustainable development policies. The Honorable Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah, sat down for a conversation with WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf about Utah’s approach to solving the housing crisis, lessons learned from their efforts, and the arsenal of tools available to bolster housing supply.
Coordinating State and Local Housing Priorities
Local governments have jurisdiction over many policies and programs that affect housing, making them key partners as states work to achieve housing goals. This panel highlighted how state and local governments can successfully align priorities and accomplish shared objectives related to housing.
Transforming Buildings Through Adaptive Reuse
Amid urgent needs for housing and all-time-high office vacancy rates, policymakers are considering ways to convert underused commercial spaces to residential units and revitalize downtowns. During this conversation, panelists focused on the role of adaptive reuse in broader efforts to increase housing options and delve into the economic and logistical feasibility of residential conversions.
Creating Vibrant Communities