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New Updates on PD&R Edge

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PD&R UPDATES

22 August, 2025

Edge logo with text PD&R Edge, an online magazine and graphics of houses

PD&R Edge, an online magazine, provides you with a snapshot view of our newly released research, periodicals, publications, news, and commentaries on housing and urban development issues.

A white, five-story concrete building on a tree-lined street. A banner advertising "Market Lofts" is visible on the side of the building, which abuts a surface parking lot.

The former Municipal Market building in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, built in 1923, has been transformed into Market Lofts on Third, a 192-unit development offering workforce housing. Supported by a blend of Opportunity Zone investment from a for-profit benefit corporation subsidiary of Opportunity Alabama and historic tax credits, the $36 million project preserves the former commercial building while delivering quality, attainable housing. Nearly all units are affordable to households earning 80 percent of area median income. Amenities include a rooftop deck, pet spa, and financial counseling services for residents. The project demonstrates how the resourceful use of programs, including Opportunity Zone financing, can meet workforce housing needs while preserving legacy structures in American downtowns.

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John Gibbs.

PD&R LEADERSHIP

Previewing the 2025 Innovative Housing Showcase
In the Leadership Message, John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, discusses the upcoming 2025 Innovative Housing Showcase, which will take place on the National Mall between September 6 and 10. The event will feature full-scale homes, building components, and emerging tools highlighting innovation in affordable, resilient housing. HUD’s signature event will include modular units, 3D-printed structures, smart technologies, and a special exhibit, “250 Years of Housing in the United States.” Panel discussions will cover various topics, including strategies to address barriers to growing the nation’s housing supply, improvements in construction technology, financing tools, and Opportunity Zone investments. The showcase aims to inspire policy change and accelerate solutions for the future of American housing.

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An under-construction house with wooden beams and scaffolding, showcasing the early stages of building development.

TRENDING

Exploring Prefabricated Wood Component Use and Adoption in Texas
HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research is funding an 18-month Clemson University study to understand and address barriers to adopting prefabricated wood components in Texas. Prefabrication can reduce construction time and cost, boosting affordable housing supply, but adoption remains uneven. The project includes literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, a build series event with demonstration projects, and builder surveys. The demonstration will highlight cost and time savings tied to offsite construction, aiming to increase the technology’s use in housing projects. Researchers will use findings to create a market adoption strategy tailored to low-use regions.

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