Blueprint for Better: Affordable Housing

Panelists at our first Blueprint for Better event at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, GA

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Georgia’s minimum wage is $7.25 for those covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. To afford a modest one-bedroom apartment at fair market value (FMR) at this rate, a person must work 87 hours per week. This staggering figure from the 2019 National Low Income Housing Coalition report shows the very real fears of low-income residents in the state. These numbers, pulled from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are representative of a growing concern for communities across Georgia and a challenge for local design professionals.

Blueprint for Better is a national initiative by the American Institute of Architects to encourage the profession to use their expertise to tackle key issues through the power of good design. The concept comes to Georgia in the form of a film viewing and a diverse panel of speakers committed in different ways of addressing the problem. Each Blueprint for Better event addresses a different issue important to Georgia.

Data Source: 2019 National Low Income Housing Coalition report

Blueprint for Better; Affordable Housing kicked off our series at the historic Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon in Atlanta. Film is an excellent way to educate, inform, and inspire the public about architecture and the positive impact architects can make. After a series of short films from the AIA Film Challenge (see right), our moderator, Kathryn Bedette, AIA, began an exceptional conversation with the panel of guests. The panel supported the conversations begun by the films sparking some much needed exchange of ideas for our growing state.

Attendees were able to participate, asking poignant questions about what each panelist has done and can do for affordable housing both locally and state-wide.

PANELISTS

KATHRYN BEDETTE, AIA - Moderator - Associate Professor of Architecture at Kennesaw State University

• Kathryn Bedette, AIA | Kennesaw State University Kathryn is an Associate Professor of Architecture at Kennesaw State University where she coordinates both the history and theory course sequence and Second-Year architecture studios. Kathryn also serves as the Architect Licensing Advisor for Georgia.

• Tim Keane | City of Atlanta Tim was appointed Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Atlanta by former Mayor Kasim Reed in July 2015. In this role, Tim is responsible for Atlanta’s Offices of Planning, Housing, and Buildings.

• Dwayne Vaughn | Atlanta Beltline In 2018, Dwayne was appointed to the newlycreated position of Vice President of Housing Policy and Development. In this role, Mr. Vaughn works closely with the executive team providing senior level leadership, innovation and focus to achieve ABl’s affordable workforce housing goals and initiatives.

• Will Johnston | Microlife Institute The Executive Director of the MicroLife Institute is a thought leader and innovator in the micro-living world. Over the past four years, Will’s organization has enabled policy change and brought acceptance of microstructures in the Southeast through events, projects, and advocacy.

• Ai-Lien Vuong, Assoc. AIA | Lord Aeck Sargent Ai-Lien is an Architectural Design Staff member at Lord Aeck Sargent. She completed her dual Master of Architecture and Master of City & Regional Planning. at Georgia Tech in 2015.

AIA FILMS VIEWED

• Home, 2016

• Rural Studio, 2016

• Community by Design – Skid Row, 2017

• A Little Alcove, 2017

• The MADWORKSHOP, 2017

• A Roof of their Own, 2017

• The BLOCK Project: Seattle, 2018

• Past/Presence: Saving the Spring Garden School, 2018

• Tiny House Atlanta’s Something Small: Atlanta ADU’s, 2018

Join us for Blueprint for Better: Public Spaces this Fall. Learn more at www.aiaga.org/blueprint