More than 350 professionals gathered for ULI Utah’s Third Annual Housing Summit, uniting a broad spectrum of voices from both the public and private sectors to address Utah’s pressing housing crisis. The gravity of the situation was immediately brought into focus with key facts including: only 1 in 10 renter households in Utah can afford a median-priced home, and the state will need 150,000 new housing units by 2030 to meet growing demands.

Dejan Eskic, Senior Research Fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, kicked off the morning with a data-driven presentation titled “Housing Myth Busters: Leveraging Data to Navigate Complex Housing Issues.” His session dispelled common misconceptions about the housing market, providing attendees with a clearer understanding of the challenges ahead. Among the key takeaways was the crucial role of increasing housing density, which does not decrease property values but is essential for making housing more accessible and affordable.

The summit then transitioned into a series of rapid-fire presentations, each offering unique insights into Utah’s housing landscape:

Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor on Housing Strategy and Innovation for Utah Governor Spencer Cox, provided an overview of the state’s current housing initiatives, emphasizing the importance of state-level strategies in addressing the housing shortage.

McCall Judd, Director of Strategy at Synergy Modular, explored the future of modular housing, highlighting its potential to significantly impact affordability and construction efficiency.

Chase Andrizzi, Director of Entitlements for DAI Utah, shared insights into the Firefly master-planned community, showcasing innovative approaches to planning and development.

Brad Holmes, President of Larry H. Miller Real Estate, offered lessons learned from 20 years of residential housing data, providing valuable perspectives on effective development strategies.

The day then transitioned to a key session titled the “YIMBY Playbook,” a collaborative discussion led by Nick Duerksen, Chris Hupp, and Paul Allred. This session focused on overcoming the “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) mentality, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with those holding opposing viewpoints. The presenters highlighted how working through challenges together can inspire creativity and lead to impactful solutions.

The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Nolan Gray, an Urban Land Use Regulation Expert and Research Director at California YIMBY. His address, followed by an interactive fireside chat with Nick Norris and Steve Waldrip, delved into the root causes of Utah’s housing crisis. The discussion underscored the need for more strategic, flexible zoning regulations to bring more affordable and appropriate housing options to market.

The summit concluded with an engaging audience Q&A session, leaving attendees with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer vision for advancing housing solutions in Utah.

Click here to see the full agenda.

Many have requested copies of the Presentations from the Housing Summit. To access these, please visit the links below.

Dejan Eskic’s “Housing Myth Busters: Leveraging Data to Navigate Complex Housing Issues.”

McCall Judd’s “Modular Home Outlook.”

Chase Andrizzi’s “Firefly: A Master Planned Community.”

Brad Holmes’ “Daybreak: Housing Insights from 20 Years of Development and Data.”

Nick Duerksen, Chris Hupp, & Paul Allred’s “YIMBY Playbook.”

Nolan Gray’s Keynote, “Legalizing Housing Abundance.”