Change Order - Housing Innovation Podcast

In the past decade, each successive year has seen hotter and hotter and hotter temperatures, leading to drier and drier forests and increasingly destructive wildfires. Over ten million acres burned in the United States in 2020. With water supplies several times lower in 2021 than 2020, this year is poised to see far-reaching infernos that could presage a new era in the West Coast that looks more like the Sahara desert than the Mediterranean. The implications of a West Coast desertification can't be understated, especially when major population centers like China, India, South and Central America face their own catastrophes-in-the-making. Change Order Group members Mike Eliason, David Friedlander, and Greg Lindsay discuss the data, likely outcomes, and what municipalities, developers, investors, underwriters, and citizens are doing, can do, and should be doing in the face of these monumental existential threats. __________ The Change Order Group was assembled specifically to address the provide analytic, technical, and cultural guidance today's developer needs to face the myriad environmental, economic, and social challenges of today's real estate market and development industry. We are eager to work with curious and serious developers, investors, municipalities, and individuals eager to safeguard the world's built environment--and all that it protects--from the storm that's coming our way. For more info and contact information, visit www.changeorder.group.

On this episode I speak with guests, friends, and fellow Change Order Group (Twitter @thechangeorder) consultants Darrick Borowski (@dborowsk), Mike Eliason (@holz_bau), and Greg Lindsay (@Greg_Lindsay). Among other things, we discuss the regulatory, financing, and technical conditions and resources needed to address the myriad climatic, economic, and social challenges besetting today's housing market and world populations. The initial impetus for The Change Order podcast was to expose the public and business communities to groundbreaking housing ideas, projects, and the people making it happen. While education is always of paramount importance, it's not sufficient if humankind has any intention of rerouting humankind from its current and future crises, which include things like mass extinction events.   The highest impact solutions for ecological and societal transformation concern where real estate is placed, how it's built, and how it lives and operates. To illustrate, the Biden Administration's recent climate objectives are impossible in a sprawling, single family home and car-centric America, even if the car is an EV. It's magical thinking. The enormity of humanity's problems require more than a greening of the broken status quo.  I formed the Change Order Group, as a super team of researchers, designers, and builders as a resource for anyone (developers, investors, organizations) interested in doing the right thing before it's too late. More specifically, our team encompasses an unmatched depth of knowledge for every strata of real estate development: from high level climate and economic data to site-specific design. We want to both expose people to the world's best ideas, processes, and resources, and provide pathways for making these things happen.  It has been an honor getting to know Darrick, Mike, and Greg over the last few months while figuring out business strategy. They are three of the smartest guys I know and each have devoted their personal and professional lives to building vital, equitable, and sustainable cities. Take a listen. To shoot me feedback or find out about working with us, drop a line at info @ changeorder.group (also our website).  David Friedlander CEO, Change Order Group

New, short series where I make fun of the dingleberries who seem determined to make sure no serious innovation or innovators get any power. Le Dingleberry du Jour is Fifth Wall's Co-Founder and #pomaidtech wunderkind, Brendan Wallace. Eff this guy.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT In this episode, I chat with Brian Gaudio, founder and CEO of Module, a Pittsburgh-based startup designing and developing prefab, infill single-family homes. Module is setting itself apart from many of today’s single-family homemakers--whose homes are often characterized by cheap materials, large sizes, and extraneous features. Instead, Module is designing homes that are modest in size, extremely energy efficient, that work with a variety of standard infill sites, and whose actual structure can be expanded as homeowner needs expand. Our conversation touches on the state of American housing, incremental housing, why Brian is starting in Pittsburgh, and a bunch more. For more information about Brian and Module, visit: https://modulehousing.com/ https://twitter.com/modulehousing For comments, suggestions, etc. email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT In this episode, I chat with Zach Aarons, co-founder and partner at the NYC-based venture capital firm, Metaprop. With $40 million dollars under management and over 90 companies in their portfolio, Metaprop is the world’s premier early-stage VC focusing on real estate tech, aka proptech. And Zach has established himself as one of the leading authorities on how technology has and will continue to affect how we build, buy, sell, use, and operate our built environments. Our conversation touches on how technology is impacting the real estate world; how traditional real estate operators are trying to make tech an integral part of their businesses; the similarities and differences between a proptech startup and a normal tech startup; and how all of this might impact where and how we live in the future. For more information about Zach and Metaprop, visit https://www.metaprop.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetaPropNYC https://twitter.com/ZacharyAarons Insta: https://www.instagram.com/metapropnyc/ For comments, suggestions, etc. email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT In this episode, I chat with Jon Dishotsky, CEO and co-founder of Starcity, an SF-based coliving developer and operator. As an early mover in the space, Jon has seen his own business and the asset class grow. We discuss that growth as well as his beginnings and initial motivations. For more info on Jon and Starcity, go to: https://twitter.com/jondishotsky https://starcity.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joinstarcity/ Please share this episode if you enjoyed it. For comments, suggestions, etc. email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT On this episode, I sit down with Atticus LeBlanc, founder and CEO or PadSplit, an Atlanta-based startup that creates multiple, individually-rented bedrooms in transit-friendly, single-family homes. Put another way, PadSplit is creating modern-day boarding houses. PadSplit is meeting the massive demand for affordable housing in areas outside of expensive coastal cities. For more info on PadSplit, go to https://www.padsplit.com/ For comments, suggestions, etc. email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT On this episode, I chat with Ken Levenson, one of the world's foremost experts in Passive House technology, a rigorous design philosophy and protocol pioneered in Europe that produces buildings that are substantially more comfortable, energy efficient, and healthy than conventionally-designed buildings. Ken holds leadership roles in the North American Passive House Network, New York Passive House, and International Passive House Association. Ken co-founded Four Seven Five High-Performance Building Supply, a firm he co-founded that brings top Passive House materials to the US and Canada as well the knowledge to implement those materials in a way that produces optimal comfort and performance. Find out more about Ken at https://foursevenfive.com/ For comments, suggestions, etc. email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT In this episode of the Change Order podcast, host David Friedlander (https://twitter.com/dfriedlander) sits down with Ben Carlos Thypin (https://twitter.com/sobendito) and Stephen Smith (https://twitter.com/marketurbanism) of Open New York (https://twitter.com/OpenNYForAll), the city's main YIMBY (yes in my backyard), pro-housing advocacy organization. They talk about the state of land use policy activism and reform, the role of innovation in solving the housing crisis (small), and more. Show guide: :00 Intros and discussing Extell One Manhattan Square and YIMBYism 4:00 Why Ben thinks anti-development activists are focusing on the wrong thing. 7:40 What is Open New York? 8:30 Elizabeth Street Gardens 12:00 Why the YIMBYism is having its moment 14:25 Steven Smith joins conversation 17:25 The difference between tenant and YIMBY activism 23:45 YIMBY Politics and politicians 33:30 Understanding the NIMBY mind 36:20 What constitutes success for Open New York 41:00 The role of innovation, tech, and alternative operating models such as SROs and micro-apartments for solving the housing crisis 51:00 Outro Find Open New York at https://opennewyork.city/ Email me, David Friedlander, at david at hothouse dot co.

Get updates about the Change Order podcast eepurl.com/gfT0aT Thomas Kosbau is the founder of ORE Design + Technology, a Brooklyn firm whose specialty is combining water, energy, and food production with architectural design. Notable projects include Dekalb market, Riverpark Farm, Square Roots shipping container farms, and 275 South. For more information, visit http://ore-design.com