Nowak Metro Finance Lab

The State and Local Housing Action Plan, created with Accelerator for America through the National Housing Crisis Taskforce, shows how state and local governments are taking the lead in addressing the housing crisis through innovative tools in land, capital, construction, regulation, and governance. By coordinating efforts across sectors, communities can expand housing access and affordability—even without new federal support.

The Fire Station 15 redevelopment in Midtown Atlanta shows how cities can repurpose public land for mixed-income housing without relying on federal subsidies. Led by Mayor Andre Dickens and AUDC, the project combines fire service upgrades with a residential tower on a $14.4M site. Using a flexible, outcomes-based procurement model, the city partnered with private developers to ensure public control, affordability, and reduced risk. The plan will deliver at least 100 affordable units and offers a replicable model for using public assets to meet housing goals.

Atlanta’s $300 million housing initiative, launched in 2023, combines public, philanthropic, and private capital to expand affordable housing without relying solely on traditional subsidies. With support from the City and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, it has already helped deliver over 6,600 affordable units through innovative financing tools and cross-sector collaboration.

Amid national dysfunction, cities like Atlanta are leading a quiet revolution in urban revitalization. The Atlanta Urban Development Corporation (AUDC) adapts European social housing models to drive mixed-income redevelopment with public ownership. Through flexible procurement, innovative financing, and cross-sector partnerships, AUDC is activating underused assets—like Fire Station 15—and demonstrating how local solutions can deliver equitable, sustainable growth.