I Am Northwest Arkansas® The Future Is Local: Affordable Housing Insights from Architect Jessica Lewallen in Northwest Arkansas
About the Show:
“I hope there’s silver buckshot… a lot of small action in a lot of areas is what will really help us get where we need to be.”
– Jessica Lewallen
This episode is part of a special series supported by the Walton Family Foundation. Through their Home Region program, the Foundation is investing in the people and ideas shaping Northwest Arkansas—across housing, entrepreneurship, transportation, and leadership.
In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas® host Randy Wilburn and architect Jessica Lewallen discuss housing, growth, and what it takes to keep Northwest Arkansas a place where people can actually afford to live.
Through her work with ULI's Faithful Foundations program, the Fayetteville Housing Crisis Task Force, and as founder of Gemstone Design Studio, Jessica's tackling one of our region's biggest challenges—making sure explosive growth doesn't price people out or erase what makes this place special.
You'll hear stories from Jessica's journey, practical ideas for housing solutions, and why fixing this requires everyone—homeowners, churches, policymakers, planners, and regular folks—to show up. Whether you're a longtime resident worried about preserving open spaces, a newcomer searching for affordable housing, or someone wondering how to get involved, this episode offers both wisdom and hope for building a Northwest Arkansas where the next generation can thrive.
Key Takeaways:
- Shifting Household Needs: Nearly three-quarters of households in Northwest Arkansas are made up of two people or fewer, highlighting a need for smaller, more affordable homes, not just large family houses.
- Smarter Land Use & Infill: Thoughtful infill development helps preserve access to parks, farmland, and green spaces, by building density where infrastructure already exists—instead of sprawling into new areas.
- Transportation’s Hidden Costs: Affordable housing isn’t just about rent or mortgages—long commutes and car dependency mean Northwest Arkansans face combined housing and transportation costs rivaling larger metro areas.
- Local Action, Local Solutions: Real change comes from community-led efforts—whether it’s homeowners building accessory dwelling units (ADUs), churches repurposing land, or neighbors engaging in city committees.
- Education Fuels Empowerment: Programs like ULI’s READY and Groundwork’s Chats help citizens gain the knowledge to shape housing policy, dispelling myths and fostering supportive, effective advocacy.
All this and more on this episode of the I Am Northwest Arkansas® podcast.
Important Links and Mentions on the Show*
- Jessica Lewallen, Gemstone Design Studio
- Email: jessica@gemstonedesignstudio.com
- LinkedIn: Gemstone Design Studio
- Instagram: Gemstone Design Studio
- Facebook: Gemstone Design Studio
Organizations & Programs:
- Urban Land Institute (ULI NWA) — Including Faithful Foundations, READY Real Estate Diversity Initiative, PLACE Summit
- Groundwork NWA — Public education and community building for housing solutions
- Fayetteville Housing Crisis Task Force
- Ozark Regional Transit
- Confident Coffee (Fayetteville): Example of successful infill development
This episode is sponsored by*
The Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of founders Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. The foundation works in three areas: improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in the home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas–Mississippi Delta.
Learn more at waltonfamilyfoundation.org
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