Featuring ULI Terwilliger Center's Home Attainability Index data, we will present the latest findings for Colorado's metro areas: how are the different regions' housing markets performing?; what are the latest homeownership and rental trends?; how deep is the affordability challenge?; and what other interesting findings did the team discover that will impact Colorado's housing and economic outlook?

Avivo Village provides transitional homeless housing in a reuse of a 48,600-square-foot distribution building. Low-barrier entry requirements and its downtown location make Avivo accessible to homeless people who may not be accepted elsewhere. To better serve the residents' needs, the team used trauma-informed design and an extensive engagement process. As a result, the interior of the building has open corridors with natural light and individual units, giving its residents a sense of community and safety. Comprehensive support services offer health care and prepare residents for the transition to permanent housing. Community leadership played a crucial role in modernizing zoning regulations and building codes to permit Avivo and protect the safety of the residents.

ULI has selected Rick Reinhard, principal of Niagara Consulting Group, as the recipient of the 2023–2024 ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award, which recognizes the authors of outstanding works written for Urban Land magazine. Reinhard was recognized for his article "Affordable Housing: YIGBY ('Yes in God's Backyard') Movement Seeks to Counter NIMBY Movement," from the Winter 2024 issue of Urban Land. Reinhard acknowledges the barriers to repurposing faith properties for housing, including the emotional ties communities have to their religious institutions, physical constraints of adaptive use, and regulatory obstacles. He provides examples of the successful adoption of the YIGBY movement, along with steps to increase opportunities for religious institutions, housing advocates, and real estate developers.

The conversation around maximizing real estate benefits often focuses on net zero emissions and adaptive reuse, overlooking human health. The emerging model of wellness real estate addresses this gap by introducing new metrics to evaluate the built environment's impact on individuals. Using Lakehouse, Colorado's first WELL Certified community, the panel will explore how wellness-driven design can generate social and economic benefits. The project architect will explain the rationale behind Lakehouse's healthy infrastructure, while researchers from Colorado State University will present findings from a multiyear study on the positive effects of thoughtful design on residents' emotional and physical health. In addition, an international research scientist from the International WELL Building Institute will provide a pro forma analysis of the financial implications of WELL Certification, including its effects on consumer attraction, social capital, health care outcomes, and employment. Join us for this discussion on the transformative potential of healthy design in real estate and its dual economic and community well-being benefits.

Law firms play a crucial role in the production and preservation of affordable housing by structuring deals, securing financing, and navigating complex policy regulations. Yet, their insights are often overlooked. This panel will feature real estate attorneys driving change for their affordable housing development partners. During this panel discussion, speakers will explore legal reforms facilitating innovative financing, new development, and rehabilitation projects. Attendees will gain insights into how these changes can streamline processes, eliminate barriers, and foster innovative partnerships. Whether you're a developer, advocate, or policymaker, this session will provide essential knowledge to navigate the evolving legal framework and enhance your affordable housing initiatives.

A growing number of real estate firms are successfully converting market-rate properties to deeply affordable housing. Learn how teams are closing the affordability gap and partnering with local providers to offer meaningful on-site supportive services to residents. Presented by ULI's Homeless to Housed Initiative.

In today's challenging real estate market, developers are confronted with rising costs across various aspects of project development, from land acquisition to materials and labor. This panel discussion will delve into strategies employed by developers to navigate these hurdles and deliver profitable multifamily projects, particularly focusing on attainable and affordable housing initiatives. Key topics include adapting to market dynamics (as prices escalate, market-rate developers are embracing affordable housing models, but may face challenges competing with seasoned affordable housing developers); cost-effective design and amenities (successful developers are employing proven design elements and amenities while minimizing unnecessary expenses to ensure profitability); suburban expansion (developers are exploring opportunities on the outskirts and suburbs, branded as attainable housing, to cater to residents priced out of urban cores); strategic site selection (site selection and execution methods play crucial roles in ensuring the feasibility and profitability of projects); and the role of consultants (land development consultants contribute by offering value engineering solutions).

In Fall 2020, Madison Development Corporation, along with the United Way and local Madison area Employers -financial institutions, health care systems & foundations, launched a Fund to fill gaps in affordable workforce housing projects in WI. The Dane Workforce Housing Fund (DWHF) raised over $11 million and helped create 747 new units, with a subsequent Fund II raising $13 million which has 230 units under construction. The Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund (AAHF), launched in early 2020, raised $15 million from local real estate leaders, which helped create over 800 affordable homes. The AAHF is now housed at the Community Foundation, which helped them attract an additional $150 million from diverse investors - financial institutions, foundations and individuals, to help create more affordable housing projects in Atlanta's core counties. This session will cover the Fund structures, the impact on their regions, and why investors stepped up.

In the face of a staggering shortfall of 7 million affordable housing units for low- and middle-income families, and with nearly 50 percent of renters now cost burdened, this session brings together architects, urban planners, developers, and designers to explore innovative design solutions aimed at alleviating the affordable housing crisis. The session will discuss strategic approaches for creating flexible, efficient living spaces that balance aesthetic appeal with cost-effectiveness, drawing on successful case studies. Join us as we navigate the intersection of design, technology, and community needs to forge sustainable pathways toward affordable housing solutions.

In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made a significant commitment to accelerate the adoption of innovative practices and policies to increase affordable housing. As part of this commitment, Gensler was awarded funding to analyze office-to-residential conversion activities across six U.S. cities, test the financial feasibility of these conversions, study policy and incentives, and build an online community guide to allow local policymakers to estimate the impact of potential conversion policies on their community. Now, Gensler is putting together a panel of experts—directly involved with HUD—to discuss the ongoing analysis, share preliminary findings, explore how Gensler and its partners are advising the government on the topic, and debate what must be done to unlock additional affordable housing in the United States. The session will outline the team's approach to the analysis; highlight the initial findings in one of the six identified cities; present the recommended changes to city, state, and federal policy; and provide an update on how HUD and one of the key cities is going to adopt the policy.

This first-of-its-kind facility, the John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center and Renaissance Legacy Lofts, provides homeless individuals with supportive services, medical care, and transitional and permanent supportive housing in a holistic space for healing, growth, and community connection. Come learn about the innovative design strategies, unique services, and creative funding sources for this award-winning development.