Housing as Infrastructure: Marisa Conatser on Building for the Workforce
From Site Selectors Are People, Too · 58:21
Show by Devin Hillsdon-Smith
When a new economic development project lands and the ribbon is cut, everyone celebrates the new jobs. But an unasked question often remains for the new hires: where are we supposed to live? In this episode of Site Selectors Are People, Too, host Devin Hillsdon-Smith sits down with Marisa Conatser, Senior Development Director at TWG Development, to discuss why housing needs to be treated as critical infrastructure—not just a "quality of life" slide at the back of a pitch deck. Marisa takes us behind the scenes of the housing industry to explain the mechanics of how market-rate, affordable, and workforce housing deals actually get done. Devin and Marisa discuss: Defining the Terms: The real difference between affordable housing (30-60% Area Median Income) and workforce housing (50-80% AMI). The Capital Stack: A look under the hood of a typical $30M housing development and how it gets funded. Tax Credits Explained: Breaking down the Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs, including the difference between 4% and 9% credits. Local Incentives: How communities can be good partners to developers using tools like PILOTs (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), creative tax abatements, and land donations. Streamlining Development: Actionable advice for local governments to de-risk projects through fast-track zoning and smoother entitlement processes. Whether you're an economic developer, a community leader, or just curious about how communities manage growth, this episode provides a masterclass on bridging the gap between bringing in jobs and building homes for the workforce. Guest info: Marisa Conatser Senior Development Director TWG Development [email protected]
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