The Strong Towns Podcast How Cities Can Help Small Developers Build Housing
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Dec 4, 2025 In a lively Q&A, experts tackle the hurdles facing small-scale housing projects, from tricky codes to financing woes. The conversation dives into the legalization of boarding houses and the lingering gray areas that leave tenants vulnerable. Strategies for cities to incentivize banks for niche lending are discussed, alongside community banks' vital role in financing affordable units. Chuck shares success stories of scaling small developments into larger projects, advocating for pre-approved plans and streamlined permitting to break down barriers in the housing market.
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Legalize And Regulate Boarding Houses
- Make boarding houses legal and regulate them like hotels rather than houses.
- Focus rules on sanitation, exits, and basic safety instead of density controls.
Gray-Market Housing Fills Real Needs
- Illegal or gray-area housing exists because it fills real demand that formal markets ignore.
- Acknowledging and integrating that supply can improve safety without raising costs.
Cities Should Leverage Banking Relationships
- Cities can use their deposit relationships to incent banks to write loans for nonstandard housing products.
- Promise local banking volume in exchange for loan products targeting boarding houses or mixed-use small projects.