The Bottom-Up Revolution

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Fighting the Housing Crisis as an Incremental Developer Part 1

Jul 25, 2024

Seth Zeren, a neighborhood developer and founding member of Strong Towns, shares his journey from city planning to incremental development in Providence, Rhode Island. He discusses the stark divide between developers and communities, emphasizing the power of small-scale projects to revitalize urban spaces. Zeren elaborates on innovative financing models and the importance of personal accountability in bridging gaps between developers and residents. His insights into transforming historic buildings and fostering local relationships reveal a compassionate approach to tackling the housing crisis.

01:04:29

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Episode guests

Seth Zeren

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Quick takeaways

Seth Zeren emphasizes that incremental development fosters sustainable community growth by allowing small changes that adapt to local needs over time.

He highlights the importance of engaging with local stakeholders to create neighborhoods that reflect the aspirations and character of existing residents.

Zeren also acknowledges the cultural stigma against developers and seeks to bridge community concerns about gentrification through genuine dialogue and understanding.

Deep dives

Journey to Providence

Seth Zarin shares his journey from the San Francisco Bay Area to Providence, Rhode Island. After recognizing the unsustainable housing prices in the Bay Area and Boston, he sought more affordable living options. His initial connections to Providence stemmed from sailing trips with family and exploring the city on weekends. After purchasing a triple-decker home in 2015, he became acutely aware of how the influx of individuals with higher purchasing power impacted local housing costs.

Intro

4min

Exploring Providence's Unique Charm

6min

Transitioning from Planning to Incremental Development

4min

The Power of Incremental Development

7min

Bridging the Gap: Community and Development

10min

Revitalizing Communities through Incremental Development

28min

Exploring Providence: Culture and Charm

5min

Seth Zeren is a a neighborhood developer and founding member of Strong Towns, as well as a self-proclaimed recovering city planner and a writer at the Build the Next Right Thing Substack. A San Francisco native, Zeren now lives with his family in Providence, Rhode Island, where he works as an incremental developer.

On this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution, Zeren joins host Tiffany Owens Reed to talk about his path to becoming an incremental developer with a midsize real estate firm, the stark divide between most modern developers and non-developers, and his approach to both incremental finance and philosophy.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Build the Next Right Thing (Substack).
Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram).
Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

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