Insights & Updates

From rethinking I-794 and strengthening public transit to conservation funding and parking reform, August was a busy month for housing and community development in Wisconsin. Catch up on what I’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about – and see what’s ahead as we kick off the Community Housing Academy in Milwaukee this September.

Ken Smith shares insights from a national Smart Growth America convening on zoning reform, connecting how restrictive land-use policies limit housing supply, drive up costs, and worsen affordability in Wisconsin. The piece explores how rethinking housing by place, type, and price can open the door to more attainable homes statewide.

Topics this month include zoning reform, housing affordability, community engagement, national policy conversations in Washington D.C., and preparations for the upcoming Community Housing Academy in Milwaukee.