In this special episode, known as a Solutions Sidebar, Brick by Brick interviews authors Richard and Leah Rothstein on what role the government played to segregate society and how to undo it. We get their insights on everything from barriers to home ownership and rent equity to how communities can level the playing field. In the interview and in their book Just Action, the Rothsteins explain how to beat NIMBYism and establish land trusts. They also say for every example of a strategy, there is a group or a local community that is implementing that change. According to the Rothsteins “It’s all very achievable.”

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Zoning dictates how our communities are designed. For decades Cincinnati’s zoning has favored detached single-family homes. But with rising home prices and skyrocketing rents, the city looks to house more people through “missing middle” housing. On this episode of Brick by Brick we look at Cincinnati’s bold new zoning reform plan called Connected Communities and its potential impact. Brick by Brick Journalist Hernz Laguerre Jr. also investigates other cities which have tried similar zoning proposals to see what we can learn.

Interview guest: Cincinnati Councilmember Reggie Harris

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Cincinnati is number two nationally converting office space into apartments. Dayton is also doing it. On this episode of Brick by Brick we look at how this possible solution can create more housing and whether this mode of up-cycling has any constraints. Brick by Brick Journalist Hernz Laguerre Jr. tours both luxury apartments in Dayton and the first new affordable apartments in Cincinnati’s downtown business district in thirty years. 

Interview guest: Doug Ressler, Manager Business Intelligence, Yardi Matrix

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Is a Cincinnati response to out-of-town investors now a national model for preserving local affordable housing? On this episode of Brick by Brick, we’re diving into a solution created by The Port (short for Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority), in which an agency or non-profit effectively buys up affordable housing – competing against institutional or Wall Street investors – in order to maintain local control and preserve housing stock. Brick by Brick journalist Hernz Laguerre Jr. follows along on the homebuying journey with residents interested in buying some of The Port’s properties – known as the CARE portfolio. 

Interview Guest: Laura Brunner, CEO of The Port.

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