Ned Segal’s Post

There have been some wonderful tributes to Greg Bialecki recently, and I wanted to add a few thoughts from knowing him professionally for nearly 20 years. Many of the policy accomplishments during my time as executive director of the MA Smart Growth Alliance would have been impossible without his leadership during the Patrick administration. Greg demonstrated three particular characteristics which are worth remembering for anyone working on transformative change: 1. A focus on results. Greg welcomed metrics, goal setting, and measuring performance. He consolidated six smaller programs into MassWorks and set targets for the entire portfolio, such as at least 80% of funds spent on redevelopment (combatting sprawl), 50% of funds in Gateway Cities (geographic equity), and 67% on transit-oriented development. He also led establishing a multifamily housing goal for the state. Without metrics and measurement, strategic change and transparency are impossible. 2. Aligning local, regional, and state goals. The biggest barrier to better land-use in Massachusetts has been fragmented jurisdictions and visions. Strong local home-rule has kept municipalities competing with each other to attract revenue while spilling project impacts into their neighbors' backyards. Greg and his team worked hard to respect local authorities and their goals while ensuring that the state--through an executive order from the Governor--focused its investments in projects that reinforced larger regional development and preservation goals. The South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor was an award-winning example of that approach. Massachusetts lacks a state-level planning office and this "nesting" approach to planning and public investment deserves to be revisited. It would complement the zoning changes happening at the local level. 3. Working across agencies and sectors. One of the defining features of Greg's work was reaching across state agencies. Not only did Greg approach economic development and housing in a holistic fashion, but also maintained constant dialogue and coordination with his colleagues in energy, environmental affairs, and transportation. Major projects received interagency review and case management. By the end of the Patrick administration, there was an integrated set of cross-cutting objectives that included the housing production goal, greenhouse gas reductions, complete streets, mode-shift, and land preservation. He valued systems thinking and recognized the importance of public, private, and nonprofit partnerships to solve complex problems. Greg will be missed. If you haven't seen it, here's the remembrance that my colleague Joe Kriesberg and I posted to the MassINC Policy Center website: https://lnkd.in/eb2ajTQy

Richmond has $3 million up for grabs—money meant to improve the city, boost its neighborhoods, and maybe even change a few lives. But here’s the twist: for once, city hall isn’t the ones calling the shots. Instead, they’re turning to the people, asking a deceptively simple question: what do you want? It’s a bold move, giving the public the reins to decide how to carve up a slice of the city’s capital improvement budget. Think sidewalks that don’t crumble under your feet, bus stops that actually keep you dry, or murals that make you stop and appreciate where you live. The possibilities are endless—or at least as endless as $3 million will allow. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/dfzAAAua Check out the process and submit your ideas here: https://www.rvapb.org/ #rva #RichmondVA #localgov #communityengagement #community

2024!!! WHAT A YEAR!!! On March 30, 2024, after much prayer and conversations with my family I announced my candidacy for Mayor. The thought that I might be able to contribute to my city’s revival is both an incredible responsibility and privilege. As the only candidate with municipal governance experience, I see what Columbus can become with leadership that can work across the aisle, make education and public safety a priority, increase the tax base without raising property taxes and eliminating blight. It’s not enough to just have a seat at the table. We have to ensure that industry coming to the region guarantees Columbus residents jobs and a chance at the American dream. As a realtor, I understand that addressing the housing crisis requires more than merely building homes. It is equally essential to build the mindset of our people. What we do in the months ahead will determine our city’s trajectory for decades to come. That’s why I’m running for mayor. I want to serve my community during this pivotal time and bring bold, innovative solutions to the table. But I can’t do it without your help. Together, we will build a brighter future! #JonesForMayor #TeamJones #Jones2025 #CommunityAction #Leadership ##ProgressWithPurpose #BrighterFuture

So proud and excited to be part of this team! "We started Local Return to build community wealth through community investment and ownership. We set out to create an investment vehicle that does three things: creates a structure that makes room for unaccredited investors – everyday Rhode Islanders – to participate, centers power and decision-making in the community, and builds local capacity..." "We’ve identified four types of projects that we’d like to invest in: First, we want to help small businesses own – and thus build equity from – their space. We know lots of entrepreneurs who have invested a lot into rented real estate but are not reaping the rewards of ownership. Second, we want to help neighborhood residents generate intergenerational wealth by taking on their first small-scale real estate projects. Think: triple-deckers or accessory dwelling units. Third, we’ll likely support revitalization projects that are key to the health and vitality of specific communities. And fourth, we want to seed shared ownership models like housing trusts or cooperatives." -- Jessica David https://lnkd.in/eMYVTcyr

Josh Kraft Enters Boston Mayoral Race—What Could It Mean for Real Estate? Josh Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and longtime philanthropist, has officially filed paperwork to run for mayor of Boston. He will be challenging incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu in the November 2025 election Kraft’s deep ties to Boston’s nonprofit and business communities, including leadership roles with the New England Patriots Foundation and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, could bring a unique perspective to the city’s leadership. While he has yet to lay out his full policy platform, his campaign will likely focus on economic development, social equity, and community investment. Potential Impact on Boston Real Estate If elected, Kraft’s policies could influence the Boston real estate market in several ways: 🏡 Development & Affordability: Mayor Wu has emphasized affordability and rent control measures—will Kraft take a different approach, potentially favoring incentives for developers? 🏢 Business & Commercial Real Estate: Given Kraft’s ties to philanthropy and business, could we see policies that encourage more investment in Boston’s commercial real estate sector? 🌆 Neighborhood Revitalization: With his experience in community programs, he may focus on revitalizing underserved areas, which could impact housing prices and investment opportunities. Boston’s real estate landscape is closely tied to city leadership—so this race will be one to watch! What are your thoughts on how a Kraft administration might shape the city’s housing and business environment? __________ Founded in 1966, First Cambridge Realty Corp. is a diversified and talented team of professionals who have tremendous experience in attending to our clients' needs, and we employ our own maintenance and construction teams to work on all our properties.   617.999.2287  https://fcrcorp.com/   #firstcambridgerealtycorp #metrowest #brookline #cambridge #falmouth #newton #residentialrealestate #residential #residentialapartments #commercialrealestate #commercial #bostonmarket #fcrcorp #properties #boston #superiorpropertiesingreaterboston #familyowned #realestate #realestaterentals #apartments #cambridgeapartment

In case you missed it:  In an in-depth interview with The Wall Street Journal, SDS Capital Group Founder & CEO, Deborah La Franchi, unveils a game-changing model for affordable housing. Our latest 49-unit apartment building development in South LA, in partnership with RMG Housing, demonstrates how bypassing traditional public funding can cut construction costs by over half, offering a novel approach to tackling homelessness in California. Discover how we're making a significant impact, faster and more efficiently than ever before. Read the full article via the link in the comments below. #SDSCapitalGroup #ImpactFundInvesting #ImpactInvesting #RealEstate #SocialImpact #PrivateInvestments #Over20YearsOfImpact

Supported with funding from the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Miami-Dade County and JP Morgan Chase “Palm Plaza represents a key advancement in addressing the critical need for affordable housing in Miami-Dade County. This initiative is part of a larger effort to create sustainable, infill housing solutions in communities facing gentrification.” #localsolutions #omnicra #redevelopmentworks #floridaredevelopment #miami #dade #affordablehousing #housingsolutions #omni #cityofmiami

I've probably said 'Intersectional' at least 100 times this week alone. Why? Because often we can get so focused on one issue, transaction, or view that we get miss out on the world of opportunities and considerations outside of our own blinders. When we're talking about Affordable Housing there's an incredible intersection of risks and opportunities connected to the real world impact of our approaches and understanding of how one lever can create a domino effect; sometimes negatively, but also overwhelmingly in positive ways if we are taking a holistic view of the impact potential. We recognize that affordable housing shortages aren’t limited to urban areas—rural communities are affected too. See how Capital One worked with developer Green Street Housing to renovate and preserve affordability of two properties in rural Delaware and Maryland, leveraging our additional resources and support to invest fully in the community -- not just the build. #affordablehousing #financialwellness #sustainablefinance #financialliteracy #communityimpact #communitydevelopment #climatejustice #communityinvestment #communitybenefits #lifeatcapitalone #buildwealth #generationalwealth https://bit.ly/4fr4yKL

I’ve got so much to process, think about, and integrate after the last two days at Neighborhood Partnerships' RE:Conference! I mostly followed the housing justice track, with sessions covering everything from Fair Housing enforcement, to tenant organizing and unionizing, to new (and at the same time, old) models of housing development like limited equity cooperatives and community land trusts (for the win!). And, I finally got a 101 on today’s typical affordable housing funding – something that has remained only at the very periphery of my knowledge for years. (Spoiler: it did not make me feel good about all the housing that we need to build.) The overarching thing I came away with on the housing front, though, is this, a paradigm shift: The more we can move away from seeing housing as a commodity, and move toward it being an essential part of our social and physical infrastructure, the closer we will get to everyone having this basic need met. There is conflict in holding the belief that housing is a human right – which is what I believe – and at the same time viewing housing as a way for anyone to get really rich. This was my second time attending this conference, and both times I came away feeling buoyed by the experience of being surrounded by people who refuse to accept the status quo as our only option when it comes to housing justice, economic justice, and racial justice in Oregon. This is not blind optimism to be clear, but it is turning the refrain of “why we can’t” into “why can’t we?” It’s visioning, and dreaming, and imagining ways to make a better future. It’s no surprise that this resonates with me. I didn’t name my business “Bold Work” on a whim, after all. Bold work is not easy work – it requires that we be willing to reexamine long held beliefs, dream a little, and keep fighting the good fight, obstacles be damned.

In this article, contributed by Maravedis, LLC Chief Strategist Adlane Fellah, a closer look is given to the state of connectivity in affordable multifamily housing and how public-private partnerships can provide a successful and sustainable framework reducing the digital divide.