How Do We Redevelop Our Aging Neighborhoods & How Do We PAY For It?

On October 8, #DoSomethingDay, ThisOldNeighborhood.Net & FoundersForKamala held a Town Hall Meeting for Condominium Owners of America, asking the question: How Do We Redevelop Our Aging Neighborhoods & How Do We PAY For It?

This was the first, organizational meeting, for a series of Town Meetings, organized by ThisOldNeighborhood.Net and Civic.Net. Our goal is to organize a Civic Internet, a network of Civic Forums, and a Neighborhood Engineering Task Force focused on Redeveloping the Buildings, Grounds, Facilities, and Utility Infrastructure of America’s aging condominium complexes (modeled after the Internet Engineering Task Force that brought us the Internet). We are currently performing a Research Program to develop Case Studies, Acquisition Models, and a Crowdsourcing Program for use by Condo Owners, their Boards, and their Management Companies; a Community of Practice to support volunteer condominium boards; an industrial Ecosystem to provide architectural, engineering, and construction services; financing programs to pay for redevelopment; and a Policy Program to influence government policies and programs to better support condominium communities.

We launch on the eve of our Nation’s 250th Birthday, from the Village of Nagog Woods, the oldest condominium complex in Massachusetts, located in Acton, where our Town Meeting gave birth to the first Minuteman Company to cross the North Bridge and turn back the British at the Battle of Lexington & Concord. We now turn our attention to planning a way forward for America’s Neighborhoods, for ANOTHER 250 years of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, for Ourselves and Our Posterity.

At our Organizing Meeting, we heard from:

• Miles Fidelman, Editor-Publisher of ThisOldNeighborhood.Net; Systems Engineer & Developer; Owner, Association Board Member, and Treasurer at Nagog Woods; and Member of Our Long-Range Capital Planning Committee (speaking for himself).

• Jim Snyder-Grant, Selectman, Town of Acton

• Jerry Mechling, Analyst and Consultant on public and private sector digital innovation; retired from Harvard University; Gartner Group; Former Director, Office of Management & Budget, City of Boston.

• Marcus Lewis, Board Member, Nagog Woods Community Corporation; Owner, Marcus Lewis Tennis Center (located at Nagog Woods).

We Asked the Questions:

• How We Reinvest in & Redevelop our aging neighborhoods, without breaking the bank?

• How we do it in the context of changing weather patterns, and new building codes requiring fossil fuel free redevelopment?

• How do we Buy Local, Build Local, and Invest Local to strengthen our local economies?

• How do we access the Municipal Planning, Engineering, Financing, and Purchasing services that our taxes pay for, but that stop at the boundaries of neighborhoods managed by Condominium & Homeowners Associations? 

• How do we benefit from an emerging political focus on Housing & Small Business Development?

And then we threw the floor open for input from participating condominium owners and community organizers - ending with a plan to proceed with defining a Research Agenda, and a Plan for Building a Network of Working Groups in Condominium Complexes across Massachusetts, and America.

We provide the full recording, along with an AI generated transcript, and the following (edited) AI generated meeting summary. We will be following this meeting with several working group meetings to develop a Research Agenda for Developing the Practice of Master Planning & Program Management for Redeveloping Condominium Complexes.

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Meeting Summary: Town Meeting for Condo Owners of America, 10/8/24

How Do We Redevelop Our Aging Neighborhoods & How Do We PAY For It?

Policy Program for Condominium Law Reform

Miles discussed the need for to reform condominium laws, focusing on master planning, technical support, and financial instruments tailored to condominiums. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues before they become too complex and costly, and the need for a structured approach to redevelopment projects.

Revitalizing Aging Housing Stock and Local Economies

Miles shared his background in engineering large projects and helping businesses start, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in neighborhood redevelopment. Miles also highlighted the challenges faced by Nagog Woods - shared by many condominium complexes - resulting from organizational models & perverse economic incentives that lead to deferred maintenance - that is now catching up with a generation of condominium complexes built in the post WWII era. He noted the additional pressures imposed by new building codes that address changing climate, extreme weather, and shifting away from fossil fuels. He noted the need for planning, engineering, and financing resources to address these issues, typically available to cities and towns, but not to condominium communities within them.

Condominium Challenges and Climate Change Solutions - The Town View

Jim discussed the challenges faced by condominium owners in Acton, Massachusetts, particularly in relation to climate change and building renovations. He highlighted the need for major renovations due to the age of the buildings and the Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Jim also explained the Mass Save system and the $10,000 whole house rebate for electrification, which now applies to condo units structured as townhouses.

The Big Picture

Jerry discussed the challenges of redeveloping large buildings and the potential for major investments in cities due to climate change and a new administration in Washington. He emphasized the need for a combination of top-down pressure and bottom-up learning curve developments to drive cost-effective solutions. Miles agreed with Jerry's observations, noting that the economics of redevelopment now work, but the problem lies in the acquisitions model and financing package.

Owner & Community Perspective

Marcus discussed the state of the world from his perspective as an absentee owner, board member, and franchise operator at Nagog Woods, as well as as a resident of another condominium complex in the area.

Participants Evo & Linda provided their perspectives as owners in other areas, as media providers, and as community organizers.

Other Perspectives

Chuck provided some input from the perspective of implementing alternative energy solutions as a homeowner. John offered some observations as an attorney specializing in reviewing condominium agreements for purchasers.

Discussing of Media & Audience Development

Discussion turned to the notion of recruiting a network of hyper-local bloggers, podcasters, and other media - as a platform for organizing town meetings & working groups in other condo complexes - as part of a larger organizing effort. Evo discussed podcasters, Linda shared her experience with facilitating Dialogue & Deliberation programs.

Samantha discussed her background in environmental policy & real estate, and her involvement with organizing efforts through Founders-for-Kamala.

Agenda & Next Steps

Miles, Chuck, John, and Marcus discussed the challenges faced by condo associations in managing their energy needs and infrastructure. Chuck emphasized the need for community-level energy management and suggested exploring ways to address technical and planning challenges. John shared his experiences with similar problems in his practice and community, suggesting that a network of condo associations could help solve these issues. Miles proposed conducting a policy study to identify potential changes that could be advocated for in Washington and suggested brainstorming sessions with Jerry and Chuck to develop a proposal for such a study. Linda agreed to conduct some research and suggested a follow-up meeting to discuss the potential for a media and educational program. The conversation ended with the intention to start inviting political candidates to forums in the near future.

Next steps

• Miles, Jerry, and Chuck to caucus and develop a proposal for a policy study on condo redevelopment and financing. Miles to draft a memorandum outlining a long-range plan for condo redevelopment initiatives as a basis for discussion.

• Miles to follow up with Linda and Evo about creating a media and educational program to build an audience and base for condo owners, starting with local watch parties for future meetings.

• Miles to organize a series of meetings with political representatives and government staff to discuss condo owners' needs.