[Durham INC] Fwd: Re: pocket neighborhoods..

[Will Wilson]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] pocket neighborhoods..
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 11:13:51 -0400
From: TheOcean1 at aol.com
To: willwilsn at gmail.com, inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net

Will and all,

If this doesn't post, hope Will can forward it to INC again - not sure why
I get INC emails, but can't seem to send them.

Just want to confirm that Will was posting for me due to that problem, and
that the resolution isn't intended to be a blanket endorsement for Pocket
Neighborhoods everywhere.

The resolution's intent is to familiarize folks with the concept, but each
installation would have to stand, or fall, on its own merits. Like Will,
I'm  intrigued by the affordability aspects while remaining uncertain about
the  gentrification prospects.

But the devil is in the details, as they say, and those details should be
known before any projects are started. Perhaps most exciting from my
perspective  is the multiple options Pocket Neighborhoods present.

I can imagine a senior community, as well as a diverse neighborhood where
the affordable units are indistinguishable from the others. Perhaps 
programs
  could be coupled with approvals that would encourage Durham Police to 
live
in  Durham, or provide teachers with incentives. Maybe our one cent for
affordable housing could be used to help supplement down payments for low
income individuals, with the stipulation that the money is returned to 
that
coffer when the home is sold, then used again to help someone else.

The possibilities are quite extensive, but the goals of each Pocket
Neighborhood should be known up front. In order for Durham neighborhoods 
to  make
wise choices, they must first understand what a Pocket Neighborhood is, 
and
the resolution is designed to improve that familiarity.

By gaining a basic understanding now, we'll be better equipped to evaluate
the details of any particular installation later.

And thanks again Will for posting this, if it fails to reach the INC
listserv!

Bill

Bill  Anderson



In a message dated 8/31/2015 8:26:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
willwilsn at gmail.com writes:

INCers,
I posted Bill Anderson's resolution on pocket  neighborhoods for him, but
wanted to clarify my own uncertain opinion on  it (some have interpreted
my position as in favor). I'm part of the INC  pocket neighborhood
committee, but I haven't concluded anything yet. My  interest in them is
to provide an option toward home ownership for our  low-wealth community
-- imagine a 400 sq ft tiny house that sells for  $50K, perhaps even have
the homes under a covenant like that of the  Community Land Trust. The
flip side of a pocket neighborhood is an option  to sell not-so-cheap
tiny homes (imagine a 1000 sq ft house selling for  $250K) in a version
of infill development in our established neighborhoods  (take out two old
homes and put in a dozen tiny homes for total sale price  of $3 million).
Yes, that serves a market rapidly being priced out of home  ownership,
but it might also speed up gentrification. I think that flip  side
requires some thought. So I'm mixed on the  idea.
Thanks,
Will
--
http://www.biology.duke.edu/wilson/
http://www.constructedclimates.org/
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