Polco’s Post

📣 Community Survey Results Are In! 📊 🗣️ Our recent community survey shows progress in several key areas between 2020 and 2023. The results also show opportunities for improvement moving forward. We talk about it on this episode of All About Albemarle. Satisfaction most improved in these areas, according to survey results: 🏙️ Main Street Program & Downtown Development 🎉 Special Events Top five areas where survey takers want to see improvement moving forward: 1️⃣ Street Maintenance and Cleaning 2️⃣ Economic Development 3️⃣ Police Services 4️⃣ Residential Trash and Recycling Collection 5️⃣ Main Street Program & Downtown Development Survey respondents also ranked the four (4) areas of city focus where they’ve seen the most positive change since 2020. The results were: 💹 Downtown Vitality 🎨 Arts and Culture 🏞️ Recreation 🚨 Safety and Security Listen to the full conversation at https://lnkd.in/gfCRDzXn To see the Community Survey results, visit www.albemarlenc.gov/survey

From repurposed shipping containers to tiny homes for at-risk youth to pink-balconied views of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, #microhousing can take many forms. Regardless of the shape, it is all about the effective use of space. We are proud to feature these 10 projects that diligently make use of minimal space, providing benefits in affordability, community engagement, environmental impact, and more. Read more on Urban Land at: https://lnkd.in/gMJBfPbw #housingsolutions #housingmarket

Capturing the moment after presenting at the 19th Annual Homes Within Reach Conference, Ken Doyno, AIA Pennsylvania Government Affairs Committee Chair, joined by Amal Mahrouki, AIA PA Director of Legislative Affairs, along with Housing and Community Development Task Force Chair Karen Welsh R.A., AIA and HCD member Quanniesha Pierre-Louis, NOMA, Assoc. AIA. The four showcased essential examples of affordable housing design from across Pennsylvania that improved outcomes through engagement, focusing on: A. VISION: Acknowledging traumas and creating shared visions that inspire communities to move forward together. B. DIVERSITY: Embracing demographic diversities to better reflect and support underserved populations. C. CATALYST: Optimizing catalytic impact by deploying mixed-use and mixed-income development to restore markets and increase social connection. D. LANDMARKS: Elevating the importance of community landmarks with adaptive reuse that removes blight and inspires market investment in surrounding neighborhoods. E. INCLUSION: Strategically deploying publicly controlled land to secure long-term housing affordability as markets change in communities. ______ For a detailed look at OUR PRESENTATION: https://lnkd.in/eGP2Jv5E Explore the FULL LIBRARY of presentations from the event: https://lnkd.in/eGP2Jv5E #AffordableHousing #HomesWithinReach #BuildingForAll

Henry Grabar, author of "Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World," recently toured several Hawaiian islands to discuss the critical need for parking reform. As a planning fellow from Harvard and a journalist for Slate, Grabar has extensively studied how excess parking requirements and inefficient space usage not only elevate housing prices but also harm wetlands, hurt small businesses, and worsen inequality. His insights into parking's impact on cities across the United States are reshaping conversations about urban planning and community health. #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities #ParkingReform #UluponoInitiative

Since 2013, the City of River Falls has partnered with the National Research Center at Polco to conduct the National Community Survey every two years. Over 500 communities across the nation participate in the survey, allowing the City of River Falls to compare its performance with peer cities. According to City of River Falls residents: *90% rated the quality of life in River Falls as "excellent" or "good" *90% rated the overall feeling of safety as "excellent" or "good" *91% recommend living in River Falls Check out the link below for the full report of results! #communitysurvey #qualityoflife #RiverFalls #communityengagement

I was interested in this post from my Stantec colleagues in the US. I think that water should be part of this master planning process too! It’s something colleagues and I are doing in the UK through Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMP). Comprehensive plans that embrace transport, housing, energy, demographics, bio-diversity AND water are way ahead - but only if we then act ! The world is changing quickly, and cities need a guiding light to manage their future. An effective comprehensive plan can be that guiding light. Read more: https://stantec.co/3Syr0H4 #cities #UrbanPlanning

Revitalizing Historic #BurlingtonCity Through Community Collaboration The latest newsletter from @MainStreetBurlington offers an inspiring look at how this #NewJersey city is driving positive change through community partnerships. A few highlights: #CommunityPolicing An independent poll explored residents' priorities like targeted foot patrols, improved lighting, and addressing abandoned properties to enhance safety. These insights can guide collaborative solutions between citizens and law enforcement. #EconomicDevelopment The mayor outlined an ambitious vision including incentives for property investment, major redevelopment projects like the historic William Allen School, and infrastructure improvements to roads and bridges. #HistoricPreservation While pursuing revitalization, the plan aims to retain Burlington City's charming character by designating conservation districts and adaptively reusing spaces like the Old Waterworks. It's a powerful example of how the #MainStreet approach, bringing together residents, businesses, and local leaders, can catalyze positive transformation. I'm inspired by communities like Burlington taking thoughtful steps towards economic vitality while celebrating their unique heritage. Read the full newsletter at https://lnkd.in/eX-cCzqt What's working in your community? How else can we support these critical revitalization efforts across #NewJersey and beyond? #RevitalizeNJ #PreservationNJ #mainstreetNJ #savingplaces

📊 While data may be plentiful, it can sometimes be challenging to find the right data to meet your needs. 🤜🤛 PAHRC and the National Low Income Housing Coalition teamed up with mySidewalk to create an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit. This resource helps local affordable housing advocates understand their housing stock and assess preservation risks in their communities. It also equips them with ideas to shore up their local housing preservation efforts. 👉 Whether you're an organization, developer, or housing professional, this adaptable toolkit is designed to help your research and knowledge about affordable housing preservation at all levels of geography. Providing locally specific data from the National Housing Preservation Database, the Preservation Toolkit helps examine opportunities for community partners to consider when creating an affordable housing preservation plan. 📊 These include: - Assessing local affordable housing stock - Recruiting partners to support affordable housing - Encouraging property owners with expiring rent restrictions to retain affordability commitments - Investing in preserving high-quality affordable housing - Adopting policies that promote long-term affordability 📊 To turn your preservation hopes into a plan for action, request an Affordable Housing Preservation Toolkit for your community here: https://lnkd.in/eSkqvZs6 #affordablehousing #data #preservation

"Listening to the needs of the local population and our specific tenants will breed trust." 🧑🤝🧑 In this short video below, the Chair of our Board, Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, outlines the impetus behind our new Corporate Strategy’s proactive, ‘place-based’ principle, which aims to ensure our impact travels far beyond our residents’ front doorsteps. 🏡 Watch the video below to learn more: #CorporateStrategy #PlaceBased #AffordableHousing #Housing #ConnectingCommunities 

The Draft One Seattle Plan is live and open for engagement! The Comprehensive Plan addresses a wide range of topics, but a few themes comprise the heart of this Plan. The Plan also addresses essential regional and statewide priorities and laws intended to facilitate the construction of affordable and family housing, improve mobility, and allow for future population growth and climate resilience. These four key moves respond to the issues and concerns emphasized by community members and stakeholders across the city. Taken together, numerous goals and policies in the Plan further each of the following:  - Housing and Affordability: Expand housing opportunities across the city. - Equity and Opportunity: Promote a more equitable Seattle as we grow. - Community and Neighborhoods: Focus on growth and investment in complete, walkable communities. - Climate and Sustainability: Meet the challenges of climate change for a resilient future. For interactive resources and to make your voice heard, join the engagement hub for open houses, submitting public comments, and more: https://lnkd.in/gYiMdurg https://lnkd.in/gQtR8x4U