What if expanding housing access depended as much on location and design as on the number of homes built?  

Unlocking Housing Potential in Existing Communities 

As North Carolina faces a housing shortfall of more than 764,000 units, many households struggle with rising housing costs while new development often occurs far from jobs, services, schools, and transit. This initiative, led by the NC State University Pappas Program for Real Estate Development in collaboration with the NC State College of Design and the UNC Wood Center for Real Estate Development, examines how urban infill housing can create more attainable housing choices in locations that already offer economic opportunity and community infrastructure.

“The question is not only how to build more housing, but how to build it in places that connect people to opportunity.”

From Research to Implementation 

Bringing together expertise in real estate development, architecture, planning, finance, and public policy, the project team includes Adam Walters, ASLA, PLA; Jeremy Leonard; and Thomas Barrie, FAIA, DPACSA. Through case-study analysis, prototype development, feasibility testing, and stakeholder engagement, the team is investigating ways to overcome development barriers on challenging urban sites while making infill housing more practical for communities, practitioners, and local governments.  

 The research will culminate in a publicly accessible digital playbook featuring development strategies, housing prototypes, financial guidance, and model policy approaches. Rather than focusing on a single project, the effort is intended to provide a flexible resource that communities can adapt to local conditions. Its broader contribution lies in connecting design, economics, and implementation, helping more housing projects move from concept to reality while supporting affordability, economic mobility, and equitable growth.