Nation's Building News Online

Plain Text Version (Click Here for Graphical Version)

Sponsored by Countrywide Home Loans National Builder Division

www.NAHB.org
Week of April 19, 2004

Front Page

President's Message

* For Working Families, Affordable Housing Is in Short Supply

Housing Forum

* Letters to the Editor

Housing and Economics

* Housing Starts Advance in March
* Report Studies Housing Affordability Issues in Florida
* Don’t Miss NAHB’s Spring Construction Forecast Conference

Building Systems

* Builders Turn to Concrete as Alternative to Volatile Lumber Prices
* Builder Donates Log Home to Habitat for Humanity

Business Management

* Customer Satisfaction Surveys Make Good Business Sense
* See How You Measure Up With ‘Cost of Doing Business Study’

Multifamily

* In a Win for NAHB's Multifamily Members, FHA Improves Mortgage Insurance Program

Small Builders and Remodelers

* The Dangers of Raising Your Prices
* Publicize May as National Remodeling Month in Your Market

Smart Growth

* Online Lectures Advocate High Density Housing
* Land Conservation Conference Examines Pedestrian-Friendly Community

State and Local

* Mold Legislation Introduced in 21 States
* San Diego Voters Reject Growth Control Measure
* Grand Rapids Builders Respond to Land Use Report

Research

* Participants Sought for Home Builder Research Panel

Design

* Inventor Turns Grounded Airplanes Into For-Sale Houses

Legal Issues

* Ask the Lawyer — About Down-Zoning

Housing Finance

* House Bill Would Index VA Loan Guaranty

Labor

* Job Corps Tour Makes Stops at Home Builder Shows

Building Products

* Online Tools Help Architects and Builders With Coastal Projects

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Sign Up for the Legislative Conference and Make Housing a Priority in Congress
* Help Build This Year’s Family Build Home for a Mother of Three
* Recruit Three Members, Get a Membership Day Jean Jacket
* Share Your Knowledge and Expertise
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

Online Lectures Advocate High Density Housing

Advocates of higher density housing should check out an online lecture series explaining the value of compact housing and correcting some of the myths that often underlie NIMBY responses to affordable housing developments.

Developed with support from the Fannie Mae Foundation, “Demystifying Density” is a new module in the Affordable Housing Design Advisor. Ten short lectures by Tom Jones, a former executive director of the California Futures Network and the current dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University, can be watched on a computer in streaming video presentations, and they are accompanied by powerpoint slides that can be used in presentations.

The lectures address three key questions:


Sponsored by: Countrywide Home Loans

See how Countrywide®'s National Builder Division can help builders achieve higher turns.
Discover how qualified borrowers can boost their home-buying power with one of Countrywide's 140+ home loan products.

  • What is density?
  • What does density look like?
  • How can I use good design to create compact, high density housing developments that are attractive, high quality and affordable places to live?

The lectures point out that compact development saves open space, can reduce car trips by 20%-40%, improves air quality, reduces traffic and pedestrian fatalities and supports local stores and businesses in the community.

Among problems identified in the lectures:

  • “Many infill lots that could become housing are zoned commercial to attract more sales tax uses.”
  • “The jobs and housing imbalance worsens. More people are driving longer commutes to find affordable homes.”
  • “Development and road patterns discourage walking or bicycling. Car use for non-work destinations now accounts for 73% of all trips.”

The Affordable Housing Design Advisor was developed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development with assistance from the American Institute of Architects, the Enterprise Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the National Congress for Community Economic Development and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
[ Go to Top ]


Sponsored by: National Association of Home Builders

Members Save at BuilderBooks.com
Reach 100,000+ Builders & Contractors
Membership has its Advantages
Learn More. Earn More. The NAHB University of Housing.

To unsubscribe or to manage your subscription, CLICK HERE

Nation's Building News Online is produced and distributed by the National Association of Home Builders