Mac Cunningham
@macinthehat.bsky.social
Affordable housing developer and policy advocate. Did I mention my cat has thumbs?
Portland, OR via Pittsburgh via Baltimore 🏳️🌈
Portland, OR via Pittsburgh via Baltimore 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
"In 2020, [Portland, OR] approved building [middle housing] on lots zoned for single family homes... A new report from the City says, it's working. 1,400 new units built in just a few years and each one is $300,000 less expensive than a typical single family home." @nbcnews.com
May 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"In 2020, [Portland, OR] approved building [middle housing] on lots zoned for single family homes... A new report from the City says, it's working. 1,400 new units built in just a few years and each one is $300,000 less expensive than a typical single family home." @nbcnews.com
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Since I’m a housing and homelessness guy I feel like I need to remind everyone that these tariffs are likely to have a cataclysmic effect on housing affordability and homelessness.
April 3, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Since I’m a housing and homelessness guy I feel like I need to remind everyone that these tariffs are likely to have a cataclysmic effect on housing affordability and homelessness.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
I have always loved this Picasso painting of 5 RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants who just finished doing their choreo for the girl group challenge.
March 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I have always loved this Picasso painting of 5 RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants who just finished doing their choreo for the girl group challenge.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Largely the same story here in Oregon.
Affordable housing finance has gotten so much more difficult over the past twenty years. It use to be in California that we could build an affordable development with tax credits, land from the city, and one source of gap financing. Today, it's not uncommon for projects to have six gap sources.
February 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Largely the same story here in Oregon.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
You may not like it, but this is what peak street network design looks like.
February 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
You may not like it, but this is what peak street network design looks like.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Applying affordability requirements to small scale infill housing means none of it will get built.
Elected Democrats in deep blue cities like “inclusionary zoning” because it allows them to pose as friends of the poor while satisfying wealthy NIMBYs’ desire to block housing in their neighborhoods.
Elected Democrats in deep blue cities like “inclusionary zoning” because it allows them to pose as friends of the poor while satisfying wealthy NIMBYs’ desire to block housing in their neighborhoods.
Cathy Moore is currently stating that she thinks that the city should apply the Mandatory Housing Affordability program to missing middle housing, mandating that anyone building a fourplex has to set aside 50% of their building as subsidized housing.
January 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Applying affordability requirements to small scale infill housing means none of it will get built.
Elected Democrats in deep blue cities like “inclusionary zoning” because it allows them to pose as friends of the poor while satisfying wealthy NIMBYs’ desire to block housing in their neighborhoods.
Elected Democrats in deep blue cities like “inclusionary zoning” because it allows them to pose as friends of the poor while satisfying wealthy NIMBYs’ desire to block housing in their neighborhoods.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
this administration will raise the cost of construction - both material and labor - so fewer projects pencil, raising rents dramatically.
we were already facing a permit cliff for the next few years
we were already facing a permit cliff for the next few years
Immigrants accounted for 34% of workers in the construction trades last year and the jobs with the highest shares of immigrants are:
• Plasterers (61% foreign born)
• Drywall installers (61%)
• Roofers (52%)
• Painters (51%)
• Carpet/floor/tile installers (45%)
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/role-re...
• Plasterers (61% foreign born)
• Drywall installers (61%)
• Roofers (52%)
• Painters (51%)
• Carpet/floor/tile installers (45%)
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/role-re...
The Role of the Recent Immigrant Surge in Housing Costs
The recent surge in immigration has sparked a policy conversation about the role of immigrants in the housing market, particularly when it comes to ho
www.jchs.harvard.edu
January 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
this administration will raise the cost of construction - both material and labor - so fewer projects pencil, raising rents dramatically.
we were already facing a permit cliff for the next few years
we were already facing a permit cliff for the next few years
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
A preview of tomorrow's presentation: www.portland.gov/auditor/coun...
January 22, 2025 at 1:52 AM
A preview of tomorrow's presentation: www.portland.gov/auditor/coun...
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Again, part of the reason why more people than ever are living directly in harm's way is because California's environmental regulations make it easier to build housing in forested, greenfield areas than in the built-up regions that are further from the wildfires. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How L.A.'s Housing Development Plays a Role in Wildfire Risk
Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role.
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Again, part of the reason why more people than ever are living directly in harm's way is because California's environmental regulations make it easier to build housing in forested, greenfield areas than in the built-up regions that are further from the wildfires. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
“We aren’t building condos in Oregon anymore, and we haven’t for years."
A bi-partisan bill in Oregon would limit the 10-year builder warranty period in an effort to lower builder risks and hopefully encourage the construction of new condos statewide.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/16/l...
A bi-partisan bill in Oregon would limit the 10-year builder warranty period in an effort to lower builder risks and hopefully encourage the construction of new condos statewide.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/16/l...
Lawmakers preview housing bills as many Oregonians face unaffordable rent or mortgage payments • Oregon Capital Chronicle
During committee hearings at the state Capitol on Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers discussed proposals to limit rent increases for mobile home parks, build more condos and crack down on landlords pock...
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
December 16, 2024 at 4:44 PM
“We aren’t building condos in Oregon anymore, and we haven’t for years."
A bi-partisan bill in Oregon would limit the 10-year builder warranty period in an effort to lower builder risks and hopefully encourage the construction of new condos statewide.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/16/l...
A bi-partisan bill in Oregon would limit the 10-year builder warranty period in an effort to lower builder risks and hopefully encourage the construction of new condos statewide.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/16/l...
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
November 29, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Great British Bake Off, but it's judged by Ken Forkish and Nancy Silverton at a vineyard in Hood River and the hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
November 28, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Great British Bake Off, but it's judged by Ken Forkish and Nancy Silverton at a vineyard in Hood River and the hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
single stair doesn't solve this problem - but it can provide far better housing - family sized homes that are highly livable even in small units.
our larch lab policy brief hits on the multitude of reasons.
www.larchlab.com/point-access...
our larch lab policy brief hits on the multitude of reasons.
www.larchlab.com/point-access...
Larch Lab Policy Brief: Point Access Blocks
Over the last few months, we've been working with several policymakers, advocacy groups, and jurisdictions on Point Access Block legislation. To facilitate those conversations and educate policymakers...
www.larchlab.com
November 25, 2024 at 1:28 AM
single stair doesn't solve this problem - but it can provide far better housing - family sized homes that are highly livable even in small units.
our larch lab policy brief hits on the multitude of reasons.
www.larchlab.com/point-access...
our larch lab policy brief hits on the multitude of reasons.
www.larchlab.com/point-access...
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
every single proposed municipal design standard needs to be ruthlessly interrogated with the question "to what purpose?"
Under Seattle's proposed Design Standards, these siding schemes aren't legal--(slats/siding/cladding longer than 16" in one direction, cladding less than 1/2" thick, stucco or plaster either, panel) and would require a Type 1 decision by the Director to be built.
Stop the micromanagement!!!
Stop the micromanagement!!!
November 20, 2024 at 10:46 PM
every single proposed municipal design standard needs to be ruthlessly interrogated with the question "to what purpose?"
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
US building and planning codes are fundamentally at odds with the very things that we need to meet housing crisis X climate crisis:
more affordable homes.
more livable homes.
more climate adaptive homes.
more family-friendly homes.
more multigenerational. commonality-oriented. etc etc
more affordable homes.
more livable homes.
more climate adaptive homes.
more family-friendly homes.
more multigenerational. commonality-oriented. etc etc
November 29, 2023 at 7:03 PM
US building and planning codes are fundamentally at odds with the very things that we need to meet housing crisis X climate crisis:
more affordable homes.
more livable homes.
more climate adaptive homes.
more family-friendly homes.
more multigenerational. commonality-oriented. etc etc
more affordable homes.
more livable homes.
more climate adaptive homes.
more family-friendly homes.
more multigenerational. commonality-oriented. etc etc
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
the cruelty is the point
JUST IN: Speaker Mike Johnson announces transgender lawmakers and staff will be barred from U.S. Capitol bathrooms not corresponding to their “biological sex.” via @delaneyrules.bsky.social
November 20, 2024 at 6:01 PM
the cruelty is the point
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
Exactly this. As with Obama's presidency, Biden didn't deliver big enough, though he delivered more than Obama did.
"The issue is not that deliverism failed. It is that Democrats convinced themselves that they had delivered, without listening to the voters telling them they had not." From Annie Lowrey.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Cost-of-Living Crisis Explains Everything
The economy under Biden looked good but felt bad.
www.theatlantic.com
November 18, 2024 at 10:36 PM
Exactly this. As with Obama's presidency, Biden didn't deliver big enough, though he delivered more than Obama did.
Among the many concerning items that the next administration is looking to cut is Housing assistance.
We know that one of the best solutions to homelessness is preventing it in the first place by keeping people housed. Housing assistance is one of those key tools.
We know that one of the best solutions to homelessness is preventing it in the first place by keeping people housed. Housing assistance is one of those key tools.
10 programs that could be on the ‘government efficiency’ chopping block
Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk’s partner at Donald Trump’s planned spending panel, suggested defunding programs that Congress no longer authorizes. Here are some of those.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 16, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Among the many concerning items that the next administration is looking to cut is Housing assistance.
We know that one of the best solutions to homelessness is preventing it in the first place by keeping people housed. Housing assistance is one of those key tools.
We know that one of the best solutions to homelessness is preventing it in the first place by keeping people housed. Housing assistance is one of those key tools.
Reposted by Mac Cunningham
We need more AND better housing. Multifamily projects are monolithic and suffer from
- heavy capitalization requirements that shut out small developers
- no incremental growth
- few windows, no cross breezes
- small units, all rentals
@holz-bau.bsky.social covers this here youtu.be/5ANAf0Bz5FY?...
- heavy capitalization requirements that shut out small developers
- no incremental growth
- few windows, no cross breezes
- small units, all rentals
@holz-bau.bsky.social covers this here youtu.be/5ANAf0Bz5FY?...
November 15, 2024 at 5:47 PM
We need more AND better housing. Multifamily projects are monolithic and suffer from
- heavy capitalization requirements that shut out small developers
- no incremental growth
- few windows, no cross breezes
- small units, all rentals
@holz-bau.bsky.social covers this here youtu.be/5ANAf0Bz5FY?...
- heavy capitalization requirements that shut out small developers
- no incremental growth
- few windows, no cross breezes
- small units, all rentals
@holz-bau.bsky.social covers this here youtu.be/5ANAf0Bz5FY?...
Okay let’s get this party started
November 14, 2024 at 10:22 PM
Okay let’s get this party started