By Ken Smith / Explore how community land trusts (CLTs) are reshaping affordable housing in Wisconsin and beyond. This in-depth article explains how CLTs work, their role in preventing displacement and land speculation, and insights from Milwaukee housing leaders on building a more equitable, justice-oriented housing system.
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By Ken Smith / Recapping key conversations shaping Wisconsin’s housing future, from regional data showing a deepening supply shortage to local debates over zoning, affordability, and NIMBYism. Highlights include insights from the Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Summit, emerging ideas like community land trusts to relieve the housing shortage, and on-the-ground efforts to connect housing policy with community-driven development.
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Ken Smith shares thoughts on the housing-related legislation from the 2025-2025 session, with a detailed breakdown of legislation passed and potential impact on broader statewide housing goals.
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By Ken Smith, Housing Policy Director /
Behind every new home is a maze of local rules – and they matter more than you think. From zoning codes to approval timelines, the fine print of local regulations can quietly shape what gets built, where, and whether it gets built at all (often adding cost, delay, and uncertainty that limit housing supply).
1000 Friends of Wisconsin and Narvarte Development hosted an event discussing zoning and its impact on housing on September 18th at Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s ThriveOn King development. During the first half of the Zoned Out! event, Kirk E. Harris, J.D., PhD presented the historical context of zoning. His stirring presentation detailed how racial segregation and disenfranchisement have been […]
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