Podcast Summary: Upzoned - "How To Stop Slumlords and Protect Urban Spaces"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Upzoned
• Host/Author: Strong Towns
• Description: Join Abby Newsham, Chuck Marohn, and occasional surprise guests to delve deep into significant weekly stories that resonate with the Strong Towns philosophy.
• Episode: How To Stop Slumlords and Protect Urban Spaces
• Release Date: July 2, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham welcomes Bernice Radle from Buffalo, New York, to discuss pressing issues surrounding historic preservation and urban development. The conversation centers around two pivotal articles: one addressing a proposed bill to empower Buffalo's housing court and another highlighting the challenges facing the Historic Preservation Fund.

Article 1: Empowering Buffalo's Housing Court Over Derelict Properties

Overview: The first article, titled "Proposed Bill Would Give Buffalo Housing Court Greater Authority Over Derelict Properties" published in WGRZ, discusses a New York State bill aimed at enhancing the capacity of Buffalo's housing court. This legislation seeks to grant judges the authority to place liens on neglected properties or appoint independent receivers to initiate necessary repairs.

Key Discussion Points:

• Legislation Impact: Bernice Radle emphasizes the significance of the bill, stating, “This would allow the state to step in when absentee or negligent landlords fail to maintain their buildings” (04:15).

• Comparative Analysis: Abby draws parallels to Missouri’s Abandoned Housing Act, noting similar initiatives aimed at combating property neglect through legal and financial mechanisms.

• Receivership as a Tool: Bernice, a certified receiver, explains how receivership can stabilize properties: “At PBN, we have a loan fund and a stabilization fund. We stabilize properties and renovate them to prevent decay” (20:01).

Notable Quotes:

• Bernice Radle: “Property values, tax values. Everybody talking about raising. Your taxes are going to be raised unless you can find other ways to bring in tax money” (24:22).

Article 2: Threats to the Historic Preservation Fund

Overview: The second article, "Preservation Under Threat: A Critical Moment for Historic Preservation Fund" from Buffalo Rising, highlights the potential funding crisis facing the Historic Preservation Fund. This fund has been crucial in providing grants to property owners for stabilizing and rehabilitating threatened historic buildings but is now at risk due to high demand and limited financial replenishment.

Key Discussion Points:

• Funding Cuts: Bernice discusses the national trend of funding cuts affecting various cultural and preservation entities: “The historic preservation fund... is facing a potential funding crisis... It’s a bloodbath” (46:55).

• Impact on Projects: The reduction in funding jeopardizes ongoing and future preservation projects, making it increasingly difficult to maintain and rehabilitate historic structures.

• Adaptation Strategies: In response to funding challenges, Bernice shares how her organization, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, is seeking alternative funding sources such as affordable housing grants: “We applied for $1.8 million to renovate 27 apartments in Niagara Falls” (43:25).

Notable Quotes:

• Bernice Radle: “Diversity of income is really important... It’s just... you can make money doing this, right? Not a lot, but you get paid a little fee to manage a transaction” (27:45).

Integration of Topics: Preservation and Urbanism

Synergy Between Preservation and Urbanism: Abby and Bernice delve into the intertwined nature of historic preservation and urban development. Bernice advocates for a broader definition of preservation beyond just iconic buildings, emphasizing the importance of smaller, everyday structures that contribute to walkable and vibrant neighborhoods.

• Preservation 2.0 and 3.0: Bernice outlines the evolution of preservation efforts:
  • Preservation 1.0: Focused on saving grand, historic buildings through legal battles.
  • Preservation 2.0: Emphasizes stopping widespread demolition and saving multi-use, smaller-scale buildings.
  • Preservation 3.0: Tackles the renovation of the most challenging and less aesthetically pleasing properties (10:15).

Notable Quotes:

• Bernice Radle: “Our walkable neighborhoods around the country are either under threat from demolition for, for infill, like big, big projects... preservation 2.0 is like, hey, let’s save, let’s stop demolition, let’s save what we can” (07:54).

Strategies and Recommendations

Zoning Reforms for Effective Preservation: Bernice outlines practical zoning strategies that support both preservation and urbanism, demonstrating how regulatory changes can facilitate the adaptive reuse of historic properties.

• Removing Minimum Parking Requirements: Eliminating unnecessary parking mandates to allow more flexible use of land and prevent the need for demolitions to make room for parking lots (36:51).

• Adaptive Reuse Permits: Introducing permits that grant flexibility in renovating historic buildings without imposing restrictive architectural guidelines: “You can do anything you want inside the building, as long as you’re not messing around with the exterior” (38:41).

Promoting Incremental Development: Both hosts agree on the importance of incremental, small-scale development as a sustainable approach to urban growth and preservation. This method allows for continuous investment and improvement of buildings, enhancing neighborhood vibrancy without overwhelming financial or structural demands.

Notable Quotes:

• Bernice Radle: “Porches should be really a minimum of eight feet wide... it's about preserving the functionality and aesthetic of historic details” (43:25).

Challenges and Opportunities

Funding and Financial Diversity: Bernice emphasizes the necessity of diversifying funding sources to sustain preservation efforts amid declining traditional funding streams. This involves leveraging affordable housing grants, engaging in creative financing, and ensuring that preservation projects are economically viable.

• Success Stories: Bernice shares a success story where her organization acquired a derelict property through receivership, renovated it, and successfully leased it, thereby contributing positively to the local tax base and community (27:45).

Community Engagement and Nurturing: Both hosts highlight the importance of community involvement and nurturing local initiatives as foundational to successful preservation and urbanism. Engaging local stakeholders and fostering a sense of ownership are crucial for long-term sustainability.

Notable Quotes:

• Bernice Radle: “Communities really need nurturing. And nurturing comes through community and it comes through preservation” (56:17).

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Abby and Bernice reinforcing the critical relationship between historic preservation and urban development. They advocate for a holistic approach that integrates preservation into broader urban planning strategies, ensuring that cities remain vibrant, economically viable, and culturally rich.

Closing Thoughts:

• Actionable Steps: Listeners are encouraged to engage in local zoning discussions, support preservation initiatives, and explore creative financing options to contribute to their communities' sustainability.

• Future Collaboration: The hosts express optimism about the potential for stronger collaboration between preservationists and urbanists to foster resilient and thriving urban spaces.

Final Quote:

• Bernice Radle: “Nurturing should be equally as important as making those numbers work. And when you can marry those two, it really is the magic wand” (56:51).

Additional Information

For more insights and resources on making cities stronger and more resilient, visit Strong Towns.

Notable Moments with Timestamps:

• [04:15] Bernice introduces the concept of the proposed bill empowering housing courts.
• [10:15] Discussion on the evolution of preservation efforts (Preservation 1.0, 2.0, 3.0).
• [20:01] Bernice details their organization's preservation strategies.
• [36:51] Zoning reforms and their impact on urban preservation.
• [43:25] Importance of detailed preservation practices, such as porch dimensions.
• [56:17] Emphasis on community nurturing through preservation and urbanism.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and strategies shared by Abby Newsham and Bernice Radle in the Upzoned podcast episode. It provides a clear understanding of the challenges and innovative solutions in the realm of historic preservation and urban development, making it valuable for listeners new and old alike.