The Strong Towns Podcast 4 Ways To Build Homes and Expand Opportunity
12 snips
Jun 2, 2025 
Cullum Clark, Director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, shares insights on impactful housing reforms. He discusses strategies to navigate zoning challenges and create housing in high-demand areas, drawing on successful examples like Houston. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing community needs with urban development, the push for more sustainable practices, and innovative construction methods. Clark also addresses the implications of falling home prices and promotes strategic investments to foster affordability and growth.
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Housing Growth in Good Locations
- Cities need housing growth both in quantity and in good locations to create opportunities.
- Allowing more infill and diverse housing types supports healthy communities and economic mobility.
Four Proven Housing Reforms
- Implement reforms like reducing minimum lot sizes, allowing apartments as-of-right in commercial zones, activating public land for housing, and cutting parking requirements.
- These low-hanging reforms have proven politically feasible and impact housing supply significantly.
Limits of Current Housing System
- The housing development system excels at large-scale greenfield projects but struggles with small, affordable infill projects.
- Economic and regulatory rules shape development patterns, favoring certain building types over others.
