1DROP at the Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference: Building Solutions for Tomorrow's Housing Challenges
1DROP members attending presentations by Gov. Jay Inslee and Moderator Andrew Hoan, President & CEO of Portland Metro Chamber.
On November 18–19, members of the 1DROP team joined policymakers, business leaders, urban planners, and housing advocates at the 2024 Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference in Portland, Oregon. The event served as a critical platform to address the escalating housing crisis across the Cascadia megaregion, which encompasses Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, B.C. With a current deficit of 250,000 housing units projected to grow to 1 million by 2044, the region faces unprecedented challenges in delivering affordable and equitable housing.
Key Challenges in Cascadia’s Housing Landscape
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized the severity of the housing crisis. Attendees explored systemic barriers, including outdated zoning regulations, lengthy permitting processes, and soaring construction costs that disproportionately impact low- and moderate-income families. For 1DROP, this context underscores the urgency of work. The team engaged in discussions on how inclusive strategies can address these disparities while aligning with broader goals of sustainability and economic resilience.
Housing for Tomorrow's Cascadia
Accelerating Housing Solutions Through Collaboration
John Wenstrup and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have presented a comprehensive roadmap to address Cascadia’s housing crisis, focusing on innovative, scalable solutions. The plan identifies commercial corridor rezoning as a game-changing strategy, unlocking the potential for up to 1.4 million new housing units by 2044. By combining this approach with expedited permitting processes, fee waivers, and modular construction technologies, the strategy aims to reduce development costs by up to 35%, making workforce housing attainable for households earning 80-100% of the area median income (AMI).
Building for the Future
BCG’s proposal also emphasizes the critical role of cross-sector collaboration between public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders. Their recommendations include leveraging underutilized government and religious properties, implementing bond-financing models, and adopting pre-approved regulatory plans to streamline the housing development process. These initiatives not only address systemic inefficiencies but also provide a unified vision for ensuring equitable access to housing across the Cascadia region.
BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner John Wenstrup poses with 1DROP developers Claude Rémy and Reggie Brown
Grand Boulevard Solution
Envisioning a Future of Inclusive Urban Growth
Peter Calthorpe from HDR shared transformative insights at the Cascadia Innovation Corridor, highlighting transit-oriented development (TOD) and mixed-use neighborhoods as solutions to the region’s housing crisis. The "Grand Boulevard" strategy reimagines underutilized commercial corridors as high-density, affordable housing hubs integrated with transit systems and green spaces. This vision fosters walkable communities and could unlock nearly 700,000 housing units in the Seattle-Tacoma area alone.
Peter Calthorpe from HDR delivers an insightful presentation on the Grand Boulevard Study, emphasizing transformative urban planning.
A Unified Vision for Cascadia’s Housing Future
Combined with actionable frameworks, the Grand Boulevard Solution highlights the power of aligning policy, design, and community needs to tackle systemic housing challenges. By embracing modular construction technologies, implementing pre-approved regulatory plans, and removing restrictive zoning, Cascadia has the opportunity to lead globally in equitable urban development.
Innovative Solutions on the Horizon
One of the event’s standout proposals was state-managed regulation-ready housing plans, a strategy aimed at streamlining development. These designs would enable faster permitting, reduce soft costs, and provide predictability for developers. The concept of self-certification by Professional Engineers also resonated, offering a practical way to expedite compliance checks without sacrificing quality.
A Shared Vision for Cascadia’s Future
From policy leaders such as WA State Gov. Jay Inslee, WA State Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, Former WA State Gov. Christine Gregoire, CA Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, Portland’s Commissioner Carmen Rubioand and many more, 1DROP is energized by the shared commitment across Cascadia’s leaders to innovate for a better future. The conference reinforced the importance of integrating technology, reducing systemic inefficiencies, and prioritizing housing that meets the needs of middle-income families and essential workers.
Dominique Remy, India Clark, Claude Remy, Kendra Cox, and Garner Moody share a thoughtful discussion, reflecting on the importance of unified action to address supply challenges.
“It was unbelievable to hear the shared recognition of the crisis we face in housing, and for so many leaders across the spectrum to align on the need to unblock the supply of housing”
We extend our gratitude to Challenge Seattle, Cascadia Innovation Corridor leadership, HDR, Boston Consulting Group, and the program's sponsors. Together, we’re forging pathways to create vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities that reflect the potential of this megaregion.
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