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Summary: Zach and I talk about the Design Build Process, housing affordability, and big ideas.

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Takeaways:
- How to design and build a home well.
- Reducing project risk through community engagement.
- How community organizations can leverage their resources to impact the community through housing.
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About Zach:
Zach Sunderland, AIA, NCGC, is the co-founder and Executive Director of Haven Design|Build. As a licensed Architect and General Contractor, Zach leads Haven’s design and construction teams and manages overall operations and visioning for the firm at large.

With an extensive background in the architecture and construction industry, he has worked on projects at every scale within multiple sectors and takes every opportunity possible to spur conversations on practice management and community-based design.

Zach is passionate about working alongside communities to create exceptional places to live, work, and play where each individual can flourish.

Connect with Zach: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- [PDF] Affordable Housing Pocked Guide by Haven Design|Build
- About B Corporations
- Harper’s Home
- [BOOK] Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
- [BOOK] There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC, where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome. I am your host, Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have worked on nearly every aspect of the land use ecosystem. This show provides an opportunity for me to share what I've learned with you, as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old, who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC, my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straightforward.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments, questions, or suggestions about Dirt NC or any land-use related matter, you can connect with me at www.oakcitycre.com.

Until next time, thank you!

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Summary: Morgan and I talk all about housing affordability at the County level

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Takeaways:
- The connection between housing and healthcare.
- Wake County has a housing deficit of 65,000 homes.
- Wake County just launched a new data platform and is working on a housing acquisition fund.

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About Morgan:
Morgan Mansa serves as the Director of Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization for Wake County, where she leads efforts to expand affordable housing, preserve existing units, and support residents through homelessness, permanent supportive housing, and veteran services initiatives.

With extensive experience in housing policy and community development, her previous roles include Director of Housing and Community Partnerships for Cary, North Carolina; Executive Director of Nashville’s Housing Trust Fund; Policy Advisor for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency; and Executive Director of the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance.

Morgan holds a BA in Sociology and a Master of Public Policy & Administration from Northwestern University, leveraging her extensive expertise to drive impactful and equitable housing solutions.

Connect with Morgan: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- Wake County Housing Data Platform
- [BOOK] The Geography of Opportunity: Race and Housing Choice in Metropolitan America
- Affordable Housing Advisory Working Group
- [BOOK] Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC, where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome. I am your host, Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have worked on nearly every aspect of the land use ecosystem. This show provides an opportunity for me to share what I've learned with you, as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old, who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC, my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straightforward.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments, questions, or suggestions about Dirt NC or any land-use related matter, you can connect with me at

Send a text

Summary: Monte and I talk about incremental development and starting a 12 Steps to Town Making small-scale developer ecosystem.

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Takeaways:
- There are four corners to any small-scale ecosystem: the Public, Private, Non-Profit, and Financial Sectors.
- How Monte’s room mate house works.
- The 12 Steps to Town Making.

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About Monte:
Monte Anderson is a passionate advocate for revitalizing underserved communities across the United States. As president of Options Real Estate, a sales, management, and development company in Southern Dallas County, he applies his deep commitment to improving neighborhoods, particularly those that are impoverished or overlooked. His approach focuses on empowering local residents and fostering sustainable economic growth through small-scale, incremental development.

With other like minded colleagues he met through Strong Towns and The Congress for the New Urbanism, Monte co-founded the Incremental Development Alliance and then Neighborhood Evolution (NEVO), two teaching organizations focused on small scale development, local ownership, and building eco systems for cities and towns that encourage this work.

He also co-authored and now teaches "The Twelve Steps of Town Making" which has resulted in success stories all over the country.

Connect with Monte: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Mentioned in the show:
- Congress for New Urbanism
- Neighborhood Evolution
- NYT Article on Monte’s Roommate House
- Strong Towns
- [Book] Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
- Grow Desoto Market Place
- [Book] 12 Steps to Town Making
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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development, you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC, where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome. I am your host, Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have worked on nearly every aspect of the land use ecosystem. This show provides an opportunity for me to share what I've learned with you, as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old, who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC, my goal is