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Cities reviving downtowns by converting offices to housing

Mae Anderson Ashraf Khalil Michael Casey

April 24, 2023 |

The Philadelphia Tribune |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Manhattan, New York

Across the country, cities are pursuing office-to-housing conversions after the pandemic decimated downtown business districts. A percentage of these new apartments are required to be offered at affordable, below-market rates and some cities are also offering tax breaks for developers to incentivize these conversions.

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The world sees invasive seaweed. This gardener sees housing bricks.

Whitney Eulich

April 19, 2023 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Puerto Morelos

A small business in Puerto Morelos uses invasive seaweed that washes up on Mexico’s beaches to create construction blocks. The company, Sargassum, mixes the seaweed with organic materials, presses the mixture into block shapes, and lets them bake in the sun to harden. The owner sells some of the blocks and uses some to build affordable housing in his community.

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Solar shingles top Virginia home

Elizabeth McGowan

April 10, 2023 |

Energy News Network |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Reston, Virginia

The Timberline Solar Energy Shingle roof is made up of solar-power integrated, nailable shingles that allow homeowners to keep the look of traditional roofing shingles while reaping the benefits of solar energy. This prevents aesthetic-related issues with homeowner associations and installation bottlenecks that complicate the process of installing solar panels.

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Can plastic bricks pave a road out of Kenya's plastic waste problem?

Kimani Chege

March 10, 2023 |

Unbias The News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

The Kenyan start-up Gjenge Makers creates pavers that are stronger and cheaper than typical concrete by heating a mixture of shredded plastic waste and sand and then compressing it to form the blocks.

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How to build homes that can fight climate change — and survive its effects

Claire Elise Thompson Gabriela Aoun Angueira

March 07, 2023 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Puerto Rico

After Hurricane Maria, shipping container houses gained popularity in Puerto Rico because of their affordability and faster build times.

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Kaua‘i's Habitat for Humanity Outbuilds Other Habitats in Hawai‘i. Here's How They Do It.

Noelle Fujii-Oride

February 28, 2023 |

Hawaii Business Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Kauai, Hawaii

The Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity is taking a unique approach to addressing the local affordable housing shortage. The nonprofit develops its own subdivisions and builds homes in batches, mostly constructed by volunteers, who will eventually own the homes, alongside supervisors.

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Prince George's County Almost Tore Down a Playground to Put Up a Gas Station

Kayla Benjamin

February 15, 2023 |

The Washington Informer |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Prince George County, Maryland

When plans for a new gas station were announced, community members from the Carole Highlands neighborhood organized 11 citizens living near the proposed spot for the project to make their case for why the company should withdraw their plans – and in the end, they did.

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Lessons from Christchurch earthquake recovery for flooded upper North

Kathryn Ryan

February 10, 2023 |

RNZ |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: New Zealand, Christchurch

The successful earthquake rebuild model in Christchurch, New Zealand, was a 60-40 cost-sharing agreement between the central government and local governments designed to be centralized and collaborative with contractors doing the rebuilding. This design could be a model for future disaster reconstruction across the country.

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Great Barrington is looking at tax breaks for those who rent at affordable rates. Provincetown is already doing it

Heather Bellow

January 26, 2023 |

The Berkshire Eagle |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Provincetown, Massachusetts

An affordable housing rental exemption program in Provincetown, Massachusetts, is increasing the number of affordable housing options in the city. The exemption decreases the property taxes homeowners pay based on the square footage of the property they are renting out.

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Is plastic waste the building material of the future?

Désiree Schneider

January 16, 2023 |

Unbias The News |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Bukit Lawang

The use of plastic waste as an affordable building material is rising in popularity. One option is turning the waste into “Ecobricks” by tightly packing it into a bottle with a stick. A German organization called Project Wings pays locals in Bukit Lawang, Indonesia, to collect plastic and make bricks to be used for buildings.

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