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- Blog · Live TC: 2024 Goals & Strategies2023 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…
- Blog · Live TC: 2023 Housing Wins & What’s Next for Abundant Housing in Northern Michigan’s CapitalIt 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…
- Blog · YIMBY Traverse City: A Rough Choice For MayorOoof. 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…
Blog · 6 Surprising Things About 2022 From a Traverse City Housing Advocate NewbiePersuading 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…
Blog · On Traverse City, Aspen, and OptimismEarlier 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?"…- Blog · All in for Traverse City neighborsOn 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…
Blog · More Traverse City Neighbors = A Better Traverse CityWhat 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…
Blog · Live TC: Why Caroline Kennedy cares about housing in TCAt 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…- Blog · 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…
Blog · How we talk about Traverse City housingAt 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…
Blog · Live TC: Why Jimmy McKenna cares about housing in TCAt 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…
Blog · 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…
Blog · Should We Build Housing Here, Traverse City?After watching the recent City Commission meeting on City-owned land and housing, we went to check out this piece of property across from the library that was discussed. It's south of the tracks and north of the Department of Public Services on Woodmere. The City currently stores snow on it. But what if we built housing on it for people instead? It's…
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.