Mark Olshaker Author Archives

It has been more than a century since Henry Ford figured out that the best way to produce automobiles was on assembly lines in huge factories, and now the industry is investing billions of dollars in developing technologies for autonomous vehicles.

Floor by floor, an apartment building is being fabricated in China and built in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

” I grew up in a family of ten in the Kennedy era. My dad, who was in construction, always said to me, ‘You need to do something good for society.’”

” I came of age during Vietnam and the Civil Rights struggle, thinking about how I could do something of social value,” Lyndel J. “Joe” Wishcamper told Tax Credit Advisor in 2015. “I am very lucky that I had the opportunity to go into affordable housing; that it draws on my skill sets. And when I hire people, I look for those same values: passion not only for the business, but for the work.”

Each year since 2004, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association has bestowed its Affordable Housing Vision Award to affordable housing and community development leaders who have made significant and valuable contributions to the field and demonstrated years of leadership, commitment and imagination.

The numbers tell the story. Urban real estate prices and rents are on a steady rise, as is the population. Usable land is harder to find.

One size does NOT fit all.

Throughout its history, Worcester, MA has experienced more than its share of ups and downs. Settled and abandoned twice before it was finally resettled in 1713, it became a center of radical activity leading up to the American Revolution.

“Housing is a key driver of all the social determinants of positive outcomes, and safe, healthy housing is foundational.”

For most of us, a power outage is an inconvenience. We may have to use flashlights, we may sweat or have to put on jackets, depending on the season, and we don’t open the refrigerator.

It is now accepted wisdom that the key social determinant to a stable and productive life for both adults and children is stable and permanent housing: It all starts with a secure place to live; that is the game-changer.

Like most resort areas where local property is bought up by wealthy patrons from all over, particularly ski resorts where usable land is severely restricted by mountains and rugged terrain and stormy weather makes long commutes impractical, Keystone, CO has a severe problem with affordable and workforce housing.