1. Affordable Housing as a Key Element of Walkable, Mixed-Use Communities Bill Sadler Program Associate Reconnecting America National Housing Conference Presentation September 16, 2013

2. Presentation Overview What are the Benefits of Affordable Housing in Walkable, Mixed Use Communities? Case Studies & Strategies to Promote Affordable Housing Near transit Atlanta Typology Case Study 2© 2010 Reconnecting America.

3. Who is Reconnecting America? Reconnecting America is a national nonprofit that advises civic and community leaders on how to overcome community development challenges to create better communities for all. Reconnecting America develops research and innovative public policy, while also building on- the-ground partnerships and convening players needed to accelerate decision-making. 3© 2013 Reconnecting America.

4. Reconnecting America 4© 2013 Reconnecting America. Technical Assistance: Creating a national marketplace for TOD, working with cities, transit agencies, developers, investors + communities Policy: Improving practice through technical assistance, research + policy reform Education: On-line Clearinghouse of TOD + Transit Best Practices

5. CTOD Partnership Dedicated to providing best practices, research and tools to support market-based transit-oriented development TOD 101 and 200 series booklets : www.ctod.orgwww.ctod.org National TOD Database: www.toddata.cnt.orgwww.toddata.cnt.org Mixed-Income Housing Action Guide: www.mitod.orgwww.mitod.org Online Resource Library: http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/resource- center/http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/resource- center/ 5© 2013 Reconnecting America.

6. TOD is type of community development that includes a mixture of housing, office, retail and/or other amenities integrated into a walkable neighborhood and located within a half-mile of quality public transportation. At Reconnecting America, we believe it is essential that TOD creates better access to jobs, housing and opportunity for people of all ages and incomes. Walkable Communities & Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) 6© 2010 Reconnecting America. Successful TOD provides people from all walks of life with convenient, affordable and active lifestyles and create places where our children can play and our parents can grow old comfortably.

7. What Has Motivated Places to Embrace Walkable Communities & TOD? Economic Competitiveness Congestion Relief Air Quality and Public Health Managing Growth Focusing Investment – Stimulating Revitalization 7© 2013 Reconnecting America.

8. 8 The Benefits of TOD Overlap with Benefits of Mixed-Income Neighborhoods

9. Who Lives and Works Near Transit? 9© 2013 Reconnecting America. Transit Served Areas: Home to nearly 1//2 of the country’s residents More than 70 percent of the workforce Over half the Black population Over 60% of the Hispanic population Over 70% of the nation’s immigrants Slightly over half of the nation’s rental housing Source: Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy (Maintaining Diversity in America’s Transit-Rich Neighborhoods)

10. Demand is Increasing… 10© 2013 Reconnecting America. By 2030: More than half of potential demand for housing near transit centers will come from households with below median incomes Households sizes are decreasing Demographic groups growing more quickly – older, non- family, non-white households – use transit more The housing stock will need to be more diverse and affordable

11. …and the stock is decreasing 11© 2013 Reconnecting America. 69% 31% Potentially at Risk Housing Project-based Section 8 and 202 Housing 250,000 affordable apartments within ½ mile of transit Approximately 70% have contracts that will expire by 2014. Source: Preserving Affordability and Access in Livable Communities, AARP, National Housing Trust and Reconnecting 250,000

12. Challenges with Building Affordable Housing Near Transit and/or Walkable Communities 12© 2013 Reconnecting America. High land costs near transit Complexity of building mixed- income projects Achieving revitalization without displacement Addressing housing preservation needs Lack of Integration in housing, land use and transportation planning

13. How Do We Ensure That Everyone Benefits from Walkable Communities? Affordability Inclusiveness Density Block size Lower VMT/ Higher Ridership Greater Equity Outcomes Equitable Communities Places People

14. Lessons Learned From the Data: The “Sweet Spot” For Equitable Communities Lower VMT/ Higher Ridership Greater Equity Outcomes CORE TRANSIT RIDERS Places People

15. The Mixed-Income TOD Action Guide Website 15© 2013 Reconnecting America. Available at: www.mitod.orgwww.mitod.org A tool for local jurisdictions working to foster mixed- income transit-oriented development (TOD) around planned transit stations. Acquire an invaluable set of data that describes the demographics and market- potential of the transit district of interest, For more information go to www.mitod.org www.mitod.org

16. Strategy 1: Build Your Case. 16© 2013 Reconnecting America. Use data to make the case Set the stage for the importance of integrating affordable housing Challenges Lack of funds Outside of organization’s mission (transit agencies) Lack of internal and board support Lack of political support Transit Agency Stabilized ridership Increased fare revenue Reduced public subsidies

17. The Denver Regional Equity Atlas Jobs Affordable Housing

18. Strategy 2: Provide Incentives and Remove Regulatory Barriers 18© 2013 Reconnecting America. Retool zoning and financial incentives to meet goals Encourage a mix of uses integrate housing and other uses Tools: Inclusionary Zoning Density bonus Streamline application Reduce Permit fees

19. Strategy 3: Preservation of Existing Housing Stock 19© 2013 Reconnecting America. Make an affordable housing inventory Identify acquisition resources Denver TOD fund Ensure that sufficient federal funding exists to renew all expiring contracts Develop early warning systems to track-at-risk housing and allocate resources appropriately Engage with transit planners to identify common goals R Street Apartments, DC: NHT and Enterprise affordable housing preservation

20. Strategy 4: Coordinate Investments Near Transit 20© 2013 Reconnecting America. Encourage public/private investment in walkable neighborhoods near transits Fund and prioritize housing investments across the region Investments in development around transit create value that can be captured and reinvested in the community Tax-Increment Financing Joint Development Special Assessment Districts

21. Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund (TOAH) 21© 2013 Reconnecting America. Bay Area TOAH $50 million for affordable housing near transit (and community facilities and other neighborhood uses) Nine-county Bay Area Includes $10 million investment from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Managed by the Low Income Investment Fund (LIFF) and other partners

22. Strategy 5: Policy Support at the Federal Regional and Local Levels 22© 2013 Reconnecting America. Federal Policy and Funding State Policy & Enabling Authority, Funding, and Institutional Framework Regional Planning and Investments Local Policy and Implementation Tools

23. Strategy 6: Proactively Plan for Station Areas 23© 2013 Reconnecting America. Brings all stakeholders together Can be done at local, state and regional (corridor) level Sets the long-term vision and implementation steps Identifies needs and opportunities Assess market for types of strategies and tools Creation or preservation strategies

24. The Atlanta TOD Typology (in process) 24© 2013 Reconnecting America. Tell the story about the Atlanta transit system and its communities Identify vulnerable stations for displacement and needs for affordable housing Understand TOD interventions needed for equitable TOD Catalyze TOD in sites with the most potential for successful TOD Identify where & what type of infrastructure improvements are needed

25. Market & Vulnerability Together Typology Map 25© 2010 Reconnecting America.

26. Categorizing Stations into Place Types: Equity Lens and Market Matchup 26© 2010 Reconnecting America.

27. Place Types 27© 2010 Reconnecting America.

28. Where Do Workers Live? Low Wage Saturation ( < $15K / Year) Residential Location 28© 2010 Reconnecting America.

29. Where Do Workers Live? Moderate Wage Saturation ($15K - $40K / Year) 29© 2010 Reconnecting America.

30. Where Do Workers Live? High Wage Saturation (> $40K / Year) 30© 2010 Reconnecting America.

31. Housing Units Affordable at 50% AMI Family of 4 Making Less than $35,900/Yr 31© 2010 Reconnecting America.

32. Housing Affordable at 80% AMI Family of 4 Making Less Than $57,450 32© 2010 Reconnecting America.

33. Thank you! Bill Sadler Program Associate Reconnecting America EMAIL: bsadler@reconnectingamerica.org PHONE: 303.830.0071 Find us on Facebook Linked In Twitter @reconnecting YouTube reconnectingamerica Flickr ractod Visit us at www.ReconnectingAmerica.org