The Battle To Build Affordable Housing Units in Western San Francisco: An Analysis of the Proposed 2550 Irving Street Project

In February 2021, San Francisco officials unveiled plans to build a 100% affordable housing project in the Sunset District of San Francisco.  The Sunset District is located on the west side of San Francisco, an area that has seen little new construction of affordable housing developments over the past decade.  The Sunset District is designated… Continue Reading The Battle To Build Affordable Housing Units in Western San Francisco: An Analysis of the Proposed 2550 Irving Street Project

Brownfield Redevelopment & Affordable Housing – A Unique Opportunity

Across the nation, housing insecurity is one of the most critical issues cities are facing.  The National Low Income Housing Coalition found in 2020 that full-time minimum wage workers cannot afford a two-bedroom market-rate rental anywhere in the US.  At the current market rate average, minimum wage workers would need 97 hours per week to… Continue Reading Brownfield Redevelopment & Affordable Housing – A Unique Opportunity

Making Affordable Housing Accessible Through More Inclusive Housing Financing : A Case Study of Ghana

Ghana’s housing crisis is intensifying as the housing affordability bracket of the growing demand is below the average market price point. The challenges posed by the growing demand are predominantly driven by the inability to lease a home or access credit to acquire a home. Though in recent years the Government of Ghana has begun… Continue Reading Making Affordable Housing Accessible Through More Inclusive Housing Financing : A Case Study of Ghana

Solving the Real Estate Puzzle with Adam Greene (B.Arch ’06)

The Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate recently welcomed a distinguished alum of the Architecture, Art & Planning School to discuss real estate development in New York City.  Adam Greene is currently Senior Vice President of Development at RXR Realty and RXR’s Project Executive for 175 Park Avenue.  He previously served as principal for MAG… Continue Reading Solving the Real Estate Puzzle with Adam Greene (B.Arch ’06)

A Crash Course in Affordable Housing: Camber Property Group

Rick Gropper and Andrew Moelis know their niche and execute it well.  Together, their understanding of the affordable housing market in New York City has, in short order, established their presence not only in the world of real estate investors, but, perhaps more importantly, the community stakeholders benefitting from their efforts.  After a time as… Continue Reading A Crash Course in Affordable Housing: Camber Property Group

Retail Vacancy & Homelessness: Can two issues accelerated by the pandemic be addressed simultaneously?

The decline of retail over the past decade has been well publicized, with no shortage of creative ideas for the reuse of vacant spaces.  The sharp increase in e-commerce sales over the past decade, coupled with the glut of supply in retail space leftover from the boom in shopping center development, has left the country… Continue Reading Retail Vacancy & Homelessness: Can two issues accelerated by the pandemic be addressed simultaneously?

The Power of Purpose – A Conversation with Jonathan Rose

Now more than ever, amid the coronavirus crisis, Americans are aware of the tradeoffs between economic growth and social, environmental, and health concerns.  This is not a new paradigm; the latest crisis has simply revealed these tradeoffs in a more conspicuous light.  Much of our economy relies on extracting limited resources, tangible materials like concrete and steel for buildings as well as people’s finite energy and creativity consumed by unfulfilling work.  Real estate developer, author, and… Continue Reading The Power of Purpose – A Conversation with Jonathan Rose

Time for a Resurgence of Rental Apartments in Toronto

Introduction Fig 1. Rendering of “The #Unignorable Tower.” Photo Credit: United Way Greater Toronto & Norm Li (Li, 2019) As it rises to become a formidable economy, Toronto faces a crucial time in its history.  The problems of housing shortage and affordability have persisted in the past, but are now even more prevalent as the… Continue Reading Time for a Resurgence of Rental Apartments in Toronto

DSS Wrap-up: Julie Romey (Baker ’99), Senior Principal, Keyser Marston Associates, Inc.

This week, the Baker program in Real Estate welcomed back an alumna, Julie Romey (Class of 1999), for its Distinguished Speaker Series.  Julie is the Senior Principal at Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., and specializes in Affordable Housing Strategies, Programs, and Transactions.  Over the last two decades, she has built an expertise in the New Market… Continue Reading DSS Wrap-up: Julie Romey (Baker ’99), Senior Principal, Keyser Marston Associates, Inc.

NYC’s Affordability Crisis: Is 421-a Extension the Solution?

New York City is undeniably facing a housing affordability crisis.  In a recent interview, Jonathan F.P. Rose, founder and president of Jonathan Rose Companies and the Cornell Real Estate Council’s 2017 Industry Leader Award recipient, estimated that New York City has a shortage of 800,000 affordable housing units – equating to 26% of New York… Continue Reading NYC’s Affordability Crisis: Is 421-a Extension the Solution?