The YIMBYESt Podcast

Join host Daniel Ivy along with Kristen Bartels from the Relief Nursery and Alma Fumiko Hesus from United way as we explore the housing crisis from the perspective of their research conducted with their Leadership Eugene Springfield cohort. 

On this episode Daniel Ivy (YIMBYES board president) speaks with Terry McDonald (Executive Director, St Vincent de Paul) and Erin Fifield (City of Springfield Community Development Analyst) about how federal funds come into play as we determine the best way to use them for creating affordable housing opportunities in our community. We also go into detail about St Vincent de Paul and the many ways they support Lane County, including current and upcoming housing development. 

In part 2 of our miniseries regarding housing updates in Springfield, Daniel Ivy (YIMBYES Board President) speaks with Mark Rust (city of Springfield senior planner),  Rick Satre (landscape architect and chair of the technical advisory committee for the Springfield development code project), and Greg James (member of the technical advisory committee).  We discuss the role of the city planner in the context of a city like Springfield as well as how code updates can lead to a more affordable housing landscape.  

This podcast contains conversations and insights with the following participants: 

Daniel Ivy – YIMBY Eugene Springfield board president

Sandy Belson – City of Springfield Comprehensive Planning Manager

Drew Larson – City of Springfield City Planner

Karen McLaughlin – ADU owner

Tobin Newburgh – ADU designer

Springfield is transforming their housing availability by promoting the development of accessory dwelling units and we discuss how they are making this vision a reality.

Join Daniel Ivy with YES and Julie Fischer with Cogito about the neighborhood plan for the Santa Clara area in Eugene.  There are many who feel like this part of town is disconnected from the city center, but there are a lot of exciting ideas on the horizon about how we can not only better integrate this part of town, but also develop the area to be more walk-able and better serve the community in its own right.

Join Daniel Ivy (YIMBY Eugene Springfield), Linda Heyl (350 Eugene and the Eugene Community Climate Coalition), and Pablo Alvarez (Beyond Toxics and the NAACP, Eugene/Springfield branch) as we discuss the environmental justice challenges facing our communities and the intersection of climate change and housing.  Stay tuned until the end because we talk about solutions as well!

Daniel Ivy talks with Eliza Kashinsky (WE CAN), Ryan Moore (legislative aid), and Kaarin Knudson (architect and urban design consultant, Better Housing Together) about the recent passing of house bill 2001. Signing this bill into law represents a tremendous effort from members of the Oregon State legislature along with many housing advocacy groups across Oregon coming to its defense. Our rallying cries were heard and it is now time to reflect on the events leading up to and through the passing of the bill along with discussion around the next steps for our collective cause.

Listen in as we chat with Stephanie Jennings (City of Eugene Manager on Housing and Homelessness) and Chris Wig (Democratic Party Chair and Willamalane Board Member) about Renter Protections in our cities. With renters now in the majority at 51% of residents in Eugene, we need to be doing more to make sure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard when it comes to a variety of issues that face our community. We talk about the challenges that we face as we try to implement programs to support them.

On episode 8 of the YIMBYESt podcast we talk with city of Eugene employees Peter Chavannes (homeless systems policy manager) and Regan Watjus (policy analyst). Their areas of expertise focus on the TAC report, which is a guiding document that will help us solve the homeless crisis, and some of the various programs the city offers for un-housed people to try and get them on the path towards stability and security. It was a great conversation and we think it is critical that everyone know about these programs and the extensive steps the city is taking to support those in need.

Daniel Ivy with YIMBY Eugene Springfield talks with Eileen Chanti (Youth and Family Services Director, St. Sincent de Paul) and Laurie Hauber (Attorney with Legal Aid) about the challenges surrounding the car camping crisis in our community. Homeless people who own vehicles struggle to find places to park while they seek housing and try to either remain employed or find an income source. Why is it so hard for them to find parking, what is the community reaction, and what solutions can we find together? 

Join Daniel Ivy with YIMBY Eugene Springfield and Eliza Kashinsky as we talk about the complex and frustrating history of ADU code in Eugene. We discuss how we can do better moving forward to allow the building of more out-buildings to promote infill and control housing prices. With the upcoming city council public forum on 3/20 on ADUs, it is critical that we make our voices heard!

Daniel Ivy with YIMBY Eugene Springfield talks with Shaun Winter and Sean Ferrell, community housing advocates, about the recent city council meeting and the implications of the passing of the construction excise tax, although maybe not the version of it we hoped for...

Join Daniel Ivy with YIMBY Eugene Springfield as we talk to Tiffany Edwards, with Eugene Chamber of Commerce and Better Housing Together, and John Van Landingham, local attorney and affordable housing advocate. We talk about their backgrounds and how they have helped shape the city of Eugene as we know it today. Then we move into a conversation about the very important construction excise tax that we are trying to implement.

On this episode we debrief the 3/11 Eugene city council public forum with Daniel Ivy, founding member of YIMBYES, Josh Caraco with the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association (SETA), and Sean Ferrell, local community housing advocate.

 This is the pilot episode for the YIMBY Eugene podcast. YIMBY Eugene is an organization that supports the creation of more affordable housing opportunities for all people. In this episode, we discuss our first call to action for the organization to attend the city council meeting on 3/11 to talk about ADUs and the CET.