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October 28, 2024
St. Joseph, MI - The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, in collaboration with the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®, is proud to host the “Escaping the Housing Trap” Summit, a two-day event aimed at addressing the region's growing housing crisis. The summit, taking place December 12 and 13 at the Frederick S. Upton Foundation Educational Pavilion at Corewell Health Lakeland, will feature best-selling author and Strong Towns founder Charles (Chuck) Marohn.
Based on Chuck Marohn's latest book Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Solution to the Housing Crisis, the summit will address key issues of housing affordability and accessibility. Targeted toward elected officials, developers, real estate professionals, lending institutions, community advocates, and concerned citizens, the event will serve as a platform for collaboration and the creation of actionable solutions to tackle the housing challenges in Southwest Michigan.
“Our goal is to create a space where stakeholders from various sectors can come together, learn alongside one another, and identify strategies to collectively address our region’s housing challenges,” said Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “By working together, we can develop solutions that not only tackle our immediate needs, but also lay the foundation for long-term resilience and growth.”
Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns, is a civil engineer and urban planner with decades of experience. As an advocate for resilient communities, he has authored three influential books on urbanism and housing, including Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town. His insights have made him a prominent voice in urbanism, including recognition by Planetizen as one of the “10 Most Influential Urbanists of All Time.”
The summit kicks off with an evening session on Thursday, December 12, featuring a keynote presentation and book signing by Marohn. The keynote will provide an in-depth look at the tension between housing as a financial asset and housing as a fundamental necessity—a theme central to Marohn’s work. A Q&A session and networking opportunities will follow the presentation.
Day two, on Friday, December 13, will feature a half-day workshop that will include discussions and collaborative planning sessions led by Marohn himself. These will cover topics such as the Strong Towns approach to sustainable development, incremental housing and pre-approved building plans, zoning and ordinance reform, and the elimination of parking minimums.
“Chuck Marohn’s insights into how housing policies have evolved and the real-world implications for communities are essential for anyone looking to create more affordable and resilient housing solutions,” said Alan Jeffries, CEO of the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®. “We’re excited to bring this conversation to Southwest Michigan.”
Through Marohn’s guidance, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how policy decisions impact housing accessibility and affordability. They will walk away with practical tools to combat the negative cycles that drive up prices and limit availability, empowering them to create a more balanced and sustainable housing market.
“The housing crisis affects everyone,” said Havlicek. “With over 200 expected to attend, we believe this is an opportunity to inspire real change.”
Event Details:
- Where: Frederick S Upton Foundation Education Center Pavilion at Corewell Health.
- Day One: Thursday, December 12 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Day Two: Friday, December 13 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Cost to Register: $20
- The registration fee includes admission to both days of the summit, a complimentary copy of Escaping the Housing Trap, and lunch on December 13th.
Registration fees and sponsorships for the event are tax-deductible through the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions made to the Foundation support its mission to drive growth and development in our community, making your participation in the summit not only eligible for tax benefits, but also a valuable investment in the region’s future.
To register or sponsor, please visit https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/StrongTowns2024.
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