The 2024 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition: Site Visit to Madison, Wisconsin

The 2024 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition: Site Visit to Madison, Wisconsin

Alaina Stern, Social Science Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research
Alex Din, Social Science Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway with student teams during their site visit to Madison, Wisconsin.

About the Competition

Each year, HUD's Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition invites graduate students enrolled in accredited U.S. educational institutions to respond to an existing affordable housing design and planning issue. The multidisciplinary teams, composed of graduate students studying architecture, planning and policy, finance, and other areas, must address social, economic, environmental, design, financial, and construction issues in addition to the affordable housing design challenge.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. For the 2024 competition, HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) partnered with the Community Development Authority (CDA) of the city of Madison, Wisconsin. The four finalist teams from University of California, Berkeley (two teams); University of Maryland, College Park; and Harvard University traveled to Madison for a 2-day site visit, accompanied by PD&R staff. CDA is challenging students to devise innovative solutions to transform Romnes Apartments, a 169-unit public housing building situated on a 7-acre site at 540 West Olin Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin.

Aerial view of 540 West Olin Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, project site for the 2024 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. Photo courtesy of the Madison Community Development Authority.

CDA is considering demolishing the current property to construct new buildings with improved amenities and sustainable features, including, potentially, additional housing units. The two-story, horseshoe-shaped building was built in 1968, and today the existing structure is facing overwhelming rehabilitation and modernization costs. The demolition and reconstruction effort would involve relocating the existing 169 public housing residents through a specific application process. CDA aims to create a mixed-income community with affordable housing options that integrates well into the surrounding neighborhood. CDA also wants to increase housing density on the site while maintaining the neighborhood's character. Ensuring that current residents can stay onsite and move only once, however, presents logistical challenges because of the current building's location and space constraints. In addition, the ideal final plan would provide onsite community amenities, including healthcare services, self-sufficiency programs, and supportive services as well as spaces for administrative uses such as project planning and staff meetings.

Site Visit

The 2-day event kicked off on March 7, 2024, with the introduction of the student teams and a warm, enthusiastic greeting from Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison's mayor. PD&R then congratulated the teams for reaching the second phase of the competition and reviewed the competition guidelines and goals. Next, Matthew Wachter, executive director of the city's Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development, and Larry Killmer II, CDA deputy director, welcomed the student teams to Madison and introduced the day's site visit.

Group photo with CDA staff, HUD employees, and students in the courtyard during site tour of the CDA-owned property.

Under sunny skies, the student teams, local staff, and PD&R employees set out from the Madison Municipal Building for the 2-mile walk to the competition site. Along the way, students and staff stopped to see CDA's ongoing redevelopment project at Parkside Apartments and the agency's efforts to harmonize the development with the surrounding area. Discussions with CDA staff highlighted the agency's plans to prioritize residents' needs and strive for a seamless transition and inclusive community spaces. The group continued along South Park Street, navigating through new developments and residential areas before finally reaching Romnes Apartments.

Housing staff working at the site greeted the students upon their arrival and took them on a full tour of the property. One student team even deployed a drone to begin aerial photography of the site. The students and staff split into smaller groups to get a comprehensive look inside the apartment building, including seeing an unoccupied residential unit, shared common spaces, and the boiler room, which staff had asked the students to consider improving.

During lunch, the students listened to a presentation on Madison's housing vision and the transformative Taking Shape, Our Triangle redevelopment effort. Wachter and Kilmer presented the city's strategic revitalization initiatives. In the afternoon, the students participated in a panel discussion on resident engagement and design decisions that showcased the innovative approaches employed in the redevelopment of CDA sites in Madison's Triangle neighborhood. Annette Miller, founder and chief executive officer of EQT By Design; Anastasia Callaghan, architect at Potter Lawson Inc; and Lauren Andersen, property operations manager for the city of Madison, shared their expertise, underscoring the importance of community input in shaping sustainable housing solutions.

Students meeting and engaging with residents in the common room during their site visit.

On March 8, 2024, students and stakeholders reconvened at the Madison Municipal Building to delve deeper into the issues surrounding affordable housing development in Madison. The morning began with a panel discussion led by the city's deputy mayor for housing and sustainability, Christie Baumel; the panelists were Dan Johns, housing development specialist at CDA; Kaitlyn Konon, senior manager of affordable housing and repositioning at Baker Tilly; and Sarah Neujahr, principal at New Year Investments. The panelists shared valuable perspectives, emphasizing the need for creative financing solutions and strategic partnerships.

The second day concluded with two final sessions and lunch. The first session, led by Linette Rhodes, a community development grants supervisor at CDA, discussed the city's Affordable Housing Fund. The second presentation, by Kevin Firchow, principal planner for development review and plan implementation at CDA, discussed the mechanics of the development review process and offered insights into the regulatory framework and funding mechanisms supporting affordable housing initiatives.

Final Thoughts

Student meeting with local affordable housing stakeholders and experts during a panel discussion on public housing repositioning, funding, and tax credits.

Overall, this year's 2-day site visit facilitated the exchange of ideas, generated actionable ideas, and reinforced the importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing housing challenges. The students gained valuable insights into leveraging partnerships, engaging residents, and embracing creative solutions that they can incorporate into their final plans.

The four finalist student teams will showcase their finished projects to both a live audience and a panel of jurors, who will determine the winning and runner-up teams. The 2024 Final Presentations and Awards will take place on April 18, 2024, from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm at HUD Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event offers the public a rare chance to witness innovative student solutions that address real-world challenges. Those unable to attend in person may register to view the webcast here.

For additional information on this year's Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition, please visit www.huduser.gov/portal/challenge/about.html.