In this episode, Aaron sits down with Johanna Nyden, Community Development Director for the Village of Skokie, for a grounded conversation about how housing, infrastructure, and development actually work at the local level. They unpack what’s really driving housing costs, the realities of aging housing stock, why permitting can feel frustrating, and how municipalities balance growth, safety, and affordability. Johanna also shares insight into “missing middle” housing, infrastructure constraints, and what it takes to keep communities livable as costs rise.