Breaking From the Suburban Era to Unlock Housing: Strategies From Maine, New Hampshire + Vermont
Northern New England states are making big moves to shift to a place-based approach to investment by strengthening state and regional support for local planning and coordinating state funding in service of local housing and development projects. Learn about new programs to provide a state-level path to project approvals in New Hampshire, tools to help enable small-scale building types in Vermont, realignment of programs to support planning by Maine communities, and more.Building Small presents an insightful view at what is possible along with the tools needed to make it happen.
Moderator: Representative Traci Gere; Sarah Curran | Deputy Director, Climate Planning and Community Partnerships, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; Jacob Hemmerick | Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development; George Reagan | Director, Community Engagement, New Hampshire Housing
Northern New England states are making big moves to shift to a place-based approach to investment by strengthening state and regional support for local planning and coordinating state funding in service of local housing and development projects. Learn about new programs to provide a state-level path to project approvals in New Hampshire, tools to help enable small-scale building types in Vermont, realignment of programs to support planning by Maine communities, and more.Building Small presents an insightful view at what is possible along with the tools needed to make it happen.
Ashleigh Walton
Ashleigh will talk about streets, buildings, and the value that is created when we look holistically at our communities and neighborhoods. How do we create places with purpose, that aren’t only safe, accessible, and high value, but also beautiful? What are the principles that differentiate neighborhoods from projects? Can we create policies, practices, and places with beauty in mind?
Architect and Project Manager | Urban Design Associates | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ashleigh will talk about streets, buildings, and the value that is created when we look holistically at our communities and neighborhoods. How do we create places with purpose, that aren’t only safe, accessible, and high value, but also beautiful? What are the principles that differentiate neighborhoods from projects? Can we create policies, practices, and places with beauty in mind?
Matthew Petty
Matthew Petty has not only been building small scale real estate projects, but he’s also pioneering a new approach to development approvals. “Pattern Zoning” has been adopted in several communities as a way to pre-approve building types and make it easier for people to invest in a community vision. See what’s possible when we remove barriers to development, front load the public engagement process, and make it easier to build what cities and towns want.
Co-Founder / Director | Infill Group | Fayetteville, Arkansas
Matthew Petty has not only been building small scale real estate projects, but he’s also pioneering a new approach to development approvals. “Pattern Zoning” has been adopted in several communities as a way to pre-approve building types and make it easier for people to invest in a community vision. See what’s possible when we remove barriers to development, front load the public engagement process, and make it easier to build what cities and towns want.
Village Partnership Initiative
Hear the latest updates on MaineDOT’s new program to help reinvest in Maine villages, towns, and city centers. Municipalities have an opportunity to bring forward projects through partnerships with MaineDOT; restoring villages to a human scale, striking a balance for all users and revitalizing the economic and cultural vibrancy of Maine’s quintessential villages and downtowns. Dale will provide an overview of the technical support and funding strategy DOT is putting in place for transformative projects that help realize local transportation and placemaking goals. Learn more and get inspired to bring local projects to life though this incredible opportunity.
Dale Doughty | Director, Bureau of Planning | MaineDOT
Hear the latest updates on MaineDOT’s new program to help reinvest in Maine villages, towns, and city centers. Municipalities have an opportunity to bring forward projects through partnerships with MaineDOT; restoring villages to a human scale, striking a balance for all users and revitalizing the economic and cultural vibrancy of Maine’s quintessential villages and downtowns. Dale will provide an overview of the technical support and funding strategy DOT is putting in place for transformative projects that help realize local transportation and placemaking goals. Learn more and get inspired to bring local projects to life though this incredible opportunity.
John “The Bad” Anderson
John will set the stage for Build Maine’s first ever hands-on work session! Conference participants will work over base maps of catalytic sites across Maine and re-imagine these critical spaces. John will set the stage for this creative work by describing how to get the right details right and why it matters. He will also provide the instructions for the hands-on activity. This will be a great opportunity for people to get inspired and think about project opportunities that might exist in their own communities.
Partner | Tri-Cities Building & Land LLC | East Point, Georgia
John will set the stage for Build Maine’s first ever hands-on work session! Conference participants will work over base maps of catalytic sites across Maine and re-imagine these critical spaces. John will set the stage for this creative work by describing how to get the right details right and why it matters. He will also provide the instructions for the hands-on activity. This will be a great opportunity for people to get inspired and think about project opportunities that might exist in their own communities.
Jeff Siegler
Jeff Siegler is the founder of Revitalize, or Die, a community revitalization firm dedicated to fighting apathy by fostering civic pride. What Jeff lacks in patience and eloquence, he makes up for in passion and honesty. He believes revitalization has the power to transform people’s lives, foster a stronger sense of community, enhance quality of life, and provide people with more enriching experiences. Don’t miss this chance to get re-energized around the work that you do to help revitalize our communities, which Jeff says is the most important work we can do.
Revitalize, or Die | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jeff Siegler is the founder of Revitalize, or Die, a community revitalization firm dedicated to fighting apathy by fostering civic pride. What Jeff lacks in patience and eloquence, he makes up for in passion and honesty. He believes revitalization has the power to transform people’s lives, foster a stronger sense of community, enhance quality of life, and provide people with more enriching experiences. Don’t miss this chance to get re-energized around the work that you do to help revitalize our communities, which Jeff says is the most important work we can do.
Wes Craiglow
Even though Maine self-identifies as a resourceful and fiscally conservative state, the practice of spreading outward in an inefficient pattern of development has become common practice, despite the financial and social costs. Often, investments in new infrastructure are approved without a clear understanding of the long-term replacement and maintenance liabilities. At the same time, we continue to incentivize development that doesn’t cover the cost of the infrastructure. Wes Craiglow will share insight on how communities can use the full power of the municipality to raise revenue and keep taxes lower through careful land use planning and investment. He will explore “crop yield” as a framework to make decisions that better support local environmental, financial, economic, social, and quality of life goals.
Northwest Arkansas Coordinator | Urban Land Institute
Even though Maine self-identifies as a resourceful and fiscally conservative state, the practice of spreading outward in an inefficient pattern of development has become common practice, despite the financial and social costs. Often, investments in new infrastructure are approved without a clear understanding of the long-term replacement and maintenance liabilities. At the same time, we continue to incentivize development that doesn’t cover the cost of the infrastructure. Wes Craiglow will share insight on how communities can use the full power of the municipality to raise revenue and keep taxes lower through careful land use planning and investment. He will explore “crop yield” as a framework to make decisions that better support local environmental, financial, economic, social, and quality of life goals.
James and Deborah Fallows
America is changing and moving once again toward an era of renewed innovation, compromise, and optimism, using practical solutions to solve the problems of this age. But what makes some communities more successful than others? Jim and Deb Fallows traveled the country to find out exactly that. On the ground, they saw a pattern emerge of American reinvention in the face of economic shocks, political crises, or other serious hardships. Hopping between cities and towns all over the United States by way of small airplane, these two keen observers will share stories and lessons from communities that have galvanized local energy and enthusiasm to make their places thrive.
Our Towns Foundation | Washington, D.c.
America is changing and moving once again toward an era of renewed innovation, compromise, and optimism, using practical solutions to solve the problems of this age. But what makes some communities more successful than others? Jim and Deb Fallows traveled the country to find out exactly that. On the ground, they saw a pattern emerge of American reinvention in the face of economic shocks, political crises, or other serious hardships. Hopping between cities and towns all over the United States by way of small airplane, these two keen observers will share stories and lessons from communities that have galvanized local energy and enthusiasm to make their places thrive.