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Updates from the chapter
Live TC: 2024 Goals & Strategies
2023 was a decent year for abundant housing advocates in Traverse City. What's next? Here are our 2024 goals and strategies. 2024 goals keep HomeStretch's Lot O project on track get the Beitner project back on track upzone R2 create a housing fund allow ADUs behind duplexes allow year-round Traverse City residents who own multiple…
Live TC: 2023 Housing Wins & What’s Next for Abundant Housing in Northern Michigan’s Capital
It was a decent year for abundant housing advocates in Traverse City. 2023 accomplishments: • approved contract with HomeStretch for Lot O • approved PILOT for Annika 1 • approved PILOT for Annika 2 • approved some upzoning (duplexes, ADUs, smaller lots) • approved a new PILOT policy (new state law) • renewed PILOT for…
YIMBY Traverse City: A Rough Choice For Mayor
Ooof. For those who missed last week's Record-Eagle election story on Tom Mair and Amy Shamroe: Mair wants to repeal the upzoning changes that just happened. And here’s Shamroe’s anti-housing votes over the past two years: • seconded a motion to water down ADU ordinance • opposed to upzoning R2 • opposed to lot width…
6 Surprising Things About 2022 From a Traverse City Housing Advocate Newbie
Persuading people with homes in Traverse City to spend time advocating for people who work in Traverse City and would also like to live on TC’s 8 square miles is harder than I thought - way harder than advocating for sidewalks/bike lanes. Homes on Beitner (land across from the library) takes a step forward in…
On Traverse City, Aspen, and Optimism
Earlier this week, I attended an excellent housing panel at the Traverse City Film Festival.It included local leaders: Seth Johnson (NWMI United Way), Yarrow Brown (Housing North), and Scott Newman-Bale (Short's/TCAPS) and filmmakers: David Siev (Bad Axe) and Abigail Disney (American Dream and other Fairy Tales). It was called "When Did Traverse City Become Aspen?"…
All in for Traverse City neighbors
On these days when it all feels like too much, I try to focus on my values and the things I can help change - like the health and well-being of my community. Like housing, abundant housing for my neighbors - and future neighbors. In case you haven't heard, there's a neighbor-led ballot petition effort happening now…
More Traverse City Neighbors = A Better Traverse City
What if we designed a Traverse City that supported people in leading lives that are good for themselves and their neighbors?I believe that starts by building abundant homes in our neighborhoods. Homes for our teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers. Homes for our seniors and young people. Homes for those of us experiencing homelessness and…
Live TC: Why Caroline Kennedy cares about housing in TC
At Live TC, we firmly believe that anyone who works in Traverse City should be able to afford to live in Traverse City. As a result, we're chatting with our friends and neighbors to tell their stories, and share with you how our community is impacted by a lack of abundant and affordable housing. We…
Traverse City housing delayed = Traverse City housing denied.
Every day that Traverse City housing projects and zoning reform are delayed - Traverse City's housing shortage gets worse.Our teachers, nurses, firefighters, wait staff, grocery clerks, and people experiencing homelessness/housing insecurity can't keep waiting for homes to be built.We need more homes now.How are more homes being delayed in Traverse City? HomeStretch still hasn't acquired Lot O The…
How we talk about Traverse City housing
At this week's Live TC meeting, we discussed how to reframe our pro-housing message.Framing is the choices we make on what to say, how to say it, and what to leave unsaid.These goals, guidelines, and recommendations were built using the FrameWorks Institute’s "Piecing It Together: A Communications Playbook for Housing Advocates" and“'You Don’t Have to Live…
Live TC: Why Jimmy McKenna cares about housing in TC
At Live TC, we firmly believe that anyone who works in Traverse City should be able to afford to live in Traverse City. As a result, we're chatting with our friends and neighbors to tell their stories, and share with you how our community is impacted by a lack of abundant and affordable housing. We…
Traverse City’s #1 Priority?
On Monday, April 18th, our City Commissioners will be discussing and hopefully approving, their 2022 goals. At the top of this list is housing. Housing as our #1 priority needs to be celebrated. And then we need to get to work to deliver. I love these four points under "Resources Required" listed on the plan: • Removing barriers…
Events
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Resources
Guides and reference from Traverse City.
2023 YEAR-TO-DATE DASHBOARD
Update: at the beginning of 2023, all 2022 metrics will reset to 0. The dashboard will be updated as actions are taken.
Visit the 2022 dashboard HERE.
If there are other metrics you’d like to see displayed, please contact us at hello@goodworkslab.org
2022 Planning Commission Goals (2023 goals have not been released)
2022 City Commission Goals (2023 goals have not been released)
Live TC is a pro-housing citizen-led movement with one agenda and one agenda only: to advocate for abundant homes on Traverse City’s eight square miles.
We’re here because we care about Traverse City’s future.
We’re here to advocate, educate, and build political will for more housing with our partners.
We’re here to fight for an inclusive, sustainable, and economically thriving Traverse City for all.
2023 LIVE TC GOALS
Build public support/political will to help those who work in Traverse City (teachers, nurses, firefighters, etc) also be able to live in Traverse City by lobbying for:
- Build HomeStretch’s Lot O project (Cass/State)
- Approve the Planning Commission’s 2022 zoning reform goals to support housing
About Traverse City
Live TC is a citizen-led chapter (Michigan’s first!) with one agenda and one agenda only: to advocate for abundant homes on Traverse City’s eight square miles.
We’re here because we care about Traverse City’s future.
We’re here to advocate, educate, and build political will for more housing with our partners.
We’re here to fight for an inclusive, sustainable, and economically thriving Traverse City for all.
Build public support/political will to help those who work in Traverse City (social workers, teachers, nurses, firefighters, etc) also be able to live in Traverse City by lobbying to:
2022/2023 accomplished goals:
Currently, we are made up of three interconnected, interdependent teams:
Yes to people.Yes to housing.Yes to climate action.Yes to more neighbors.Yes to a fair and equitable community.Yes to a strong economy and workforce.Yes to fewer cars and shorter commutes.Yes to health and walkable neighborhoods.Yes to Traverse City.
Live Traverse City.
2023 was a decent year for abundant housing advocates in…
It was a decent year for abundant housing advocates in…
Ooof. For those who missed last week’s Record-Eagle election story…
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How we work
Reform the rules
Back zoning reform and streamlined permitting so more homes are legal to build, especially near transit and jobs.
Educate & engage
Turn out residents to the meetings that matter and make it easy to take a pro-housing position on local projects.
Build partnerships
Work with neighbors, labor, faith groups, and builders toward a shared abundant-housing agenda.
TC
Traverse City is a chapter of YIMBY Action.
One of the local groups organizing for more homes across the country, backed by the national team.