Most agree the Midwest needs more housing, but fewer agree on where that housing should go. Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) opposition remains one of the most persistent barriers to new housing construction, particularly for affordable homes and apartments.
With the Omaha metro facing a need for as many as 30,000 new housing units by 2030, the conversation around overcoming NIMBY roadblocks has taken on new urgency. The topic was front and center at a September luncheon hosted by CREW Omaha, part of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, an organization dedicated to advancing women in the commercial real estate industry. Metonic President Kassie Inness joined Amanda Brewer of Habitat for Humanity Omaha, Jody Holston of Front Porch Investments, Jenn Kanne Morris of Bluestem Capital Partners, and Ben Kunz of Hoppe Development to discuss effective strategies for combating NIMBYism.
Lead With Empathy
Much of the opposition to new development is rooted in uncertainty and a lack of information rather than genuine anti-development sentiment. When some residents hear “apartments” or “affordable housing,” they often picture the large, under-resourced public housing projects of past decades. Most modern housing developments are now carefully designed to mesh with the surrounding community.
Educating residents about the property’s design and purpose can alleviate most major NIMBY concerns.
Concern: Traffic
Education: Share the development site plan and independent traffic studies with residents.
Concern: Noise
Education: List specific sound-buffering features, including landscaping, setbacks, and building orientation.
Concern: Neighborhood Character
Education: Detail the project’s design and finishes to show how its scale and style fit the surroundings.
Concern: Housing Stigma
Education: Outline maintenance and management plans that show a long-term commitment to curb appeal and neighborhood quality of life.
Communicate Early and Often
Nobody likes feeling out of the loop, especially about a project that could change their community. Communicating with neighbors early in a project’s lifespan and maintaining those lines of communication helps build community trust.
- Engage earnestly in public forums, providing clear and accurate project information, answering questions directly, and meeting residents where they are.
- Meet with particularly concerned neighbors personally, one-on-one, in a setting where they can feel heard and understood.
- Take neighbor concerns seriously. Sometimes the fix is simple. A request for taller trees along a property line can resolve what looked like a fundamental objection.