THE EQUITY POOL

By Megan Gahlman and Brian Smith in the UMN BS in Architecture undergraduate studio 04 taught by Gabriel Cuéllar

“Is it possible to design property? This question is rhetorical because in fact property is already designed. A more productive line of inquiry might be, "How can designers use the architecture of property to their advantage?” This question was the studio prompt created by instructor Gabriel Cuéllar.

Location, lot size, area median income, and single-family zoning have contributed to the creation of a threshold of housing unaffordability in Minneapolis. This intangible edge defines an unaffordable housing zone more pervasive than one may initially perceive. These implications have stifled attempts to create real affordable housing for those continually cost-burdened by conditions deeply embedded into a multitude of systems politically, economically, spatially, and historically. We propose not simply a CLT (Community Land Trust) gathering property wherever possible, but a coalition pooling equity together to break down the line of unaffordability in Minneapolis through collective stewardship, income inclusion, and “highest and best” social use of each parcel. This could usher in a new wave of affordable housing in Minneapolis, creating new social environments and spatial organizations at multiple scales, from the home to the city.