As of this morning, massive fires are drawing closer and closer to South Lake Tahoe. So while we have been talking about the crisis of affordable housing, we are also dealing with a crisis of megafires. And our guest today, Scott Ehlert, is here to make clear how these two crises are related, and what solutions are available to mitigate both.

We discuss the sordid history of development, regulations, and building codes; how community planning can be used as a roadblock to meaningful action; how car culture can make affordable housing impossible; why we need to change forest management practices to mitigate megafires; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Scott’s work & the mission of Fabric Workshop (4:15)
• Scott’s background in development & manufacturing (8:23)
• How community planning can become an excuse for inaction (14:10)
• Developing to actually solve affordable housing (27:27)
• What’s the #1 thing to be done? (29:12)
• The sordid history of development, regulations, & building codes (39:38)
• Car culture: build parking spaces *or* build affordable housing (55:27)
• Megafires & changing forest management practices (1:09:18)
• Reasons to be Hopeful — if we act now (1:17:59)

RELATED LINKS

• Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2: Housing, Community, & Core Values 
• Mountain Town Economics, Pt 1: Affordable Housing, Short-Term Rentals, & More 
• Scott’s company: Fabric Workshop
• Why Housing Policy is Climate Policy
• Build Garages or Build Affordable Housing
• The Fight to Solve America’s Affordability Crisis
• What is Cross Laminated Timber?
• Become a Blister Member

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