LVL With Us

For our eighth episode, we are joined by Matt Martin, director of community research for the Columbus Foundation. Together, we briefly discuss how the racial gaps in housing came to be before diving into a conversation on where funding for affordable housing is needed, where it’s coming from, and how we can inspire more interest and investment in it.

This bonus episode is dedicated to our side quest segment. Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana from Toole Design Group and Leah Evans, Homeport president and CEO answer a series of questions related to transportation. At the end, we get a few book and podcast recommendations. Do you know the answers? Find Homeport on LinkedIn or Instagram as @homeportoh and let us know.

In part two of our conversation, we welcome back Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana of Toole Design Group, as well as Leah Evans, Homeport president and CEO. Together, we explore how we can use the data we gather to inform a more collaborative response that crosses jurisdictional lines and answers our growing community’s present and future needs.

We’re back with the team from Toole Design, Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana, who we heard from in our last episode on inclusive transportation, and Leah Evans, Homeport president and CEO.

For this bonus ‘sode we’re discussing how we can support adding density with robust transportation options, including mass transit like light rail and bus rapid transit (BRT). We talk about tackling our public right of way policies and how we can adjust them to make room for modes like biking and walking. Can we add density without having transportation options already built in for the individuals and families who inevitably need to move from one place to another? Would things like BRT and light rail be viable without first establishing density?

On today's episode I am joined by Catherine Girves, principal planner with Toole Design, and Tobi Otulana, project planner with Toole Design, as well as Homeport President & CEO, Leah Evans.

In part one of a two-part conversation, together we cover the gaps in transportation options here in Central Ohio, how we created a car-centric culture, how we can make it more inclusive, and how it all intersects with affordable housing policy.

Sources:

Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities

Career affordable housing consultant Roy Lowenstein joins us for this month's bonus 'sode to lend crucial context to the conversation around zoning reform and the trepidation behind some of its opposition.

Sources:

https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/2020/12/03/black-columbus-ohio-residents-stories-systemic-racism/3644308001/

https://www.dispatch.com/in-depth/lifestyle/2020/12/03/black-columbus-ohio-homes-impact-highways-east-side/3629685001/

The City has released some proposed changes to Columbus' 70-year-old zoning code, looking to increase density in our urban core, enable construction of taller buildings, and reuse older buildings. The changes have a projected outcome of 88,000 new units of housing, a big step toward addressing our housing shortage and preparing for an unforeseen population increase. With Erin Prosser, Deputy Director of Housing Strategies, we take a closer look at the zoning code and what it could mean for the growth of our region.

Sources:

https://cohhio.org/report-ohios-affordable-housing-gap-shrinks-slightly/

https://columbusunderground.com/two-mile-bike-and-pedestrian-loop-planned-for-downtown-bw1/

https://columbusunderground.com/cota-board-votes-to-advance-linkus-transit-plans-bw1/

https://columbusunderground.com/mayor-says-linkus-transit-vote-planned-for-fall-2024-bw1/

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2024/03/12/columbus-home-building-fell-to-five-year-low-despite-shortage/72931508007/

https://www.ahaco.org/findinghome

https://cohhio.org/report-ohios-affordable-housing-gap-shrinks-slightly/

Link to Zone-In website: https://zone-in-columbus.hub.arcgis.com/

It's been two months since the Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund launched to give Black and other people of color the funding boost they need to purchase their first home. In this bonus episode, Anna Teye-Kasongo, director of CONVERGENCE, is back on LVL With Us with an update on the impact of the fund this far and where it's expected to go from here.

Today, we're with Lydia Daniels and Jillian Kent with the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center and Mark Childs, Homeport Resident Services Program Manager. Together we discuss the financial challenges residents and Central Ohioans at large are facing. And we dive into the free resources out there for folks of all income levels to get guidance in becoming financially fit or assistance with these things that leave folks cost burdened. Whatever your goals are, there’s help to get you there.

Welcome to LVL With Us, the bonus 'sode. We’re back with Michael Corey, CEO of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County. We're doing a deep dive on the local implications of climate change, how we can expect Central Ohio to grow and change, and what individuals and businesses can do to make their homes and buildings more energy efficient and sustainable.

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/inflation-reduction-act-programs-fight-climate-change-reducing-embodied

https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/658

https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/inflation-reduction-act-guidebook/