Join Us for Madison Housing Week August 17th - 22nd

Madison Housing Week 2024

Following is a blog from Alder Bennett that should be of interest to residents of every alder district.

The Madison Housing Coalition is offering its first annual Housing Week next week! The group is a partnership between several local & national organizations, including AARP, 350 Wisconsin, Madison is for People, Sierra Club WI, Strong Towns, WHEDA, and more.

You can find more info about Housing Week here – the website will continue to be updated.

Missing Middle Walking Tour — Saturday, August 17th

• Time: 3:00 p.m.
• Location: Lapham Elementary
• RSVP: Link

Neighborhoods like Marquette, Tenney-Lapham, Dudgeon-Monroe, and Vilas are frequently lauded as some of Madison’s best. What are these neighborhoods doing differently and does it provide a solution to the City’s housing crisis? We’ll take a walking tour of Tenney-Lapham to explore its unique Missing Middle Housing.

The walking tour will take approximately 60 minutes. Please wear comfortable footwear, bring water, and dress appropriately for the weather.  

Following the tour we will gather at Johnson Public House for a tour recap and beverage courtesy of AARP Wisconsin. 

Barriers to Missing Middle Housing — Sunday, August 18th

• Time: 2:00 p.m.
• Location: AARP Office on 222 West Washington Ave, Suite 600
• RSVP: Link

A look into how zoning, building codes, financing, and other barriers prevent missing middle housing, and how to solve these issues

Housing on Tap, presented by AARP — Monday, August 19th

• Time: 5:30 – 7:00pm
• Location: Vintage Brewing Company on S Whitney Way
• RSVP: Link
• Unprecedented demographic and lifestyle shifts have fundamentally transformed our nation’s housing requirements and our communities and neighborhoods are not equipped to provide housing for all life stages. This is noteworthy because research shows that remaining in your home, or at least the familiar surroundings of your neighborhood, is crucial to your physical, mental and emotional health as you grow older. Join AARP Wisconsin for Housing On Tap, during Madison’s Housing Week, an evening of trivia and discussion of housing for all life stages.

While the event is free, advance registration is required due to capacity limits and catering. Registration includes a round of trivia, food and two drink tickets.

Universal Design and Accessibility in Housing — Tuesday, August 20th

• Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
• Location: Zoom

Housing Equity – Tuesday, August 20th

• Time: 5:30 – 7:00pm
• Location: Best Western Premier Park Hotel
• RSVP: Link

Housing access remains extremely inequitable across racial and economic lines. Join us for a panel discussion featuring local leaders who are working to address these inequities.

Complete Neighborhoods – Wednesday, August 21st

• Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
• Location: Zoom
• RSVP: Link

As communities work to meet housing demand, it’s important to consider the location and type of new units. The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Development Framework advocates for Complete Neighborhoods as a key strategy to accommodate expected regional growth. Join us as we explore the meaning of “complete neighborhoods” and why they are prioritized in the Regional Development Framework. We’ll also discuss common impediments to making both new and existing neighborhoods more “complete” and strategies to overcome those impediments.

Housing Environmentalism, Presented by 350 Wisconsin & Sierra Club – Wednesday,  August 21st

• Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm
• Location: Central Library, Room 301
• RSVP: Link

The Climate Crisis provides an urgent directive: we must immediately find ways to cut emissions. Join us for a panel discussion presented by the Sierra Club and 350 Wisconsin. Experts from the Rocky Mountain Institute and Sunrise Movement LA will discuss their latest research - how can we build our homes and cities better to help us meet climate and environmental goals? Alexis London from Madison’s Bayview Foundation will join to provide an affordable housing development expert perspective. UW Professor Chris Timmins will moderate.

A Budget-Neutral Hack for Affordable Housing – Thursday, August 22nd

• Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
• Location & RSVP: Zoom

How public financing could unlock affordability in Madison & Dane County. Led by Olivia Williams, Executive Director of Madison Area Community Land Trust.

Dane County Exec Debate & Social – Thursday, August 22nd

• Time: 6:00 – 9:45pm
• Location: The Tinsmith, 828 East Main St, Madison
• RSVP: Link

Housing Week’s grand finale. Jason Joyce of The Isthmus will moderate a housing debate between the finalists for Dane County Executive. How would they plan to address the housing crisis as Executive? A post-debate social with drinks and pizza will follow, and the Democratic National Convention speeches will be played on a big screen post-debate while pizza is served.