Building a Better SLO

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Building a Better SLO

Building a Better SLO was created to bring new information, ideas and inspiration to San Luis Obispo

04/28/2026

What is it that transforms the quality of a place from bland and average to special and unforgettable? Why do we gravitate toward public spaces where all the parts just seem to fit perfectly? Our next Building a Better SLO event on May 13th from 6-7:30pm is focused on these questions and how we can collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of our community.

Join us for a discussion with three placemakers - nationally recognized architects Brian Korte and Cam Greenlee, along with Catherine Gavin of Clayton Korte. They will share stories about the planning, design, and maintenance of public spaces and how our community spaces can be more intentional and thoughtful.

Tickets include snacks and drinks and are available now at the link in our bio. See you there!

03/05/2026

On March 5, join Building a Better SLO to learn more about a powerful, real-world solution to the housing affordability crisis: Community Land Trusts.

Lauded by former Building a Better SLO speakers, community land trusts are gaining momentum across the country as a proven way to keep homeownership within reach—now and for generations to come.

As Program Director of Community Owned Real Estate at EPACANDO and Pahali Community Land Trust in East Palo Alto, Ofelia Bello brings hands-on experience building permanently affordable homeownership for long-term residents. She will share concrete examples from East Palo Alto and break down how these trusts work, why communities across the country are turning to this model, and what’s possible when housing is held in trust for the public good.

Join us to learn more about this promising tool in the housing affordability tool box —and what it could look like here.

Event starts at 6:00pm, doors open at 5:45pm. Tickets can be purchased at the link in our bio and include local appetizers, wine and beer.

02/06/2026

On March 5, join Building a Better SLO to learn more about a powerful, real-world solution to the housing affordability crisis: Community Land Trusts.

Lauded by former Building a Better SLO speakers, community land trusts are gaining momentum across the country as a proven way to keep homeownership within reach—now and for generations to come.

As Program Director of Community Owned Real Estate at EPACANDO and Pahali Community Land Trust in East Palo Alto, Ofelia Bello brings hands-on experience building permanently affordable homeownership for long-term residents. She will share concrete examples from East Palo Alto and break down how these trusts work, why communities across the country are turning to this model, and what’s possible when housing is held in trust for the public good.

Join us to learn more about this promising tool in the housing affordability tool box —and what it could look like here.

Event starts at 6:00pm, doors open at 5:45pm. Tickets include local appetizers, wine and beer and can be purchased at the link below: https://www.my805tix.com/e/community-land-trust

08/28/2025

Join us for our next event - BUILDING COMMUNITY, NOT COMMODITY on Thursday September 18th with Jim Heid to learn how real estate development can foster authentic places, stronger local economies, and increased housing diversity.

Jim Heid, FASLA author of Building Small, and Founder of CRAFT DnA and UrbanGreen TM will share insights into an increasingly popular approach to community development that relies on incremental, locally based development strategies. Drawing from his book, he will share practical tips for how real estate entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and residents can build great communities.

Doors open at The Penny at 5:45pm, event starts at 6pm. Tickets are $15 and include snacks and drinks.

Follow this link to buy tickets now! https://www.my805tix.com/e/building-community-not-commodity

05/01/2025

NEXT WEEK - On May 8th, from 6-7:30 pm, join us in welcoming Gregg Colburn to San Luis Obispo to talk about Homelessness.

Gregg is the co-author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns. Colburn’s research has direct implications for the Central Coast, where rising rents and limited affordable housing are increasing homelessness rates. His talk will explore:
- How local zoning and development policies can be adapted to increase housing supply.
- The role of public and private partnerships in funding affordable housing.
- Why evidence-based solutions must guide policy decisions rather than reactive, short-term fixes.

Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and tickets include snacks and drinks. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the link in our bio.

03/07/2025

In just one week, Vince Martinez is coming to the Penny to share how we can build resilient and carbon-sequestering cities.

Vince is the President & COO of Architecture 2030 with nearly two decades of experience driving systemic change and leading industry-wide efforts to achieve zero-carbon buildings and cities.

Join us to learn what we can do to align policy, practice, and education for a sustainable future.

Tickets are $15 and include local snacks, beer and wine. Get your tickets now at the link in our bio. See you there!

02/25/2025

Join us on Thursday, March 13th at 6pm at the Penny for an insightful conversation with Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA, President & COO of Architecture 2030, a leading organization dedicated to solving the climate crisis through the decarbonization of the built environment.

Vincent will share how the Central Coast and other communities can take actionable steps toward achieving carbon neutrality. Whether you’re a policymaker, architect, developer, or community advocate, this discussion will offer invaluable insights into the future of sustainable urban development and how local leaders can help drive meaningful change.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in climate-responsive design and policy! Tickets are $15 at the link in our bio and include local appetizers, wine, and beer.

01/28/2025

THURSDAY - January 30th - join Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA, and Angela Brooks, FAIA, for a compelling discussion on new models and emerging trends in affordable and low-income housing design and the role of inclusive approaches in fostering vibrant, equitable communities.

Get your tickets at the link in our bio. See you there!

10/31/2024

Join us next week, Thursday November 7th at 6:00pm to hear Norm Van Eeden Petersman discuss solutions and paths out of the housing crisis.

It’s not just SLO. Talk of a “housing crisis” pervades American cities—be it about off-the-charts prices in coastal communities or hyper-vacancy in the Rust Belt. The good news is that communities far and wide are sharing their approaches to a shared challenge.

Strong Towns’ Norm Van Eeden Petersman will join Building a Better SLO and Strong Towns SLO to discuss a brief history of how we arrived at the current set of housing problems and how other communities are solving them.

Doors open at 5:45pm. Tickets are $15 and include beer/wine and snacks. Register at the link below: https://shorturl.at/AJ9AJ

10/15/2024

THURSDAY - November 7th we are joining with Strong Towns SLO to bring you a discussion on housing with Norm Van Eeden Petersman.

It’s not just SLO. Talk of a “housing crisis” pervades American cities—be it about off-the-charts prices in coastal communities or hyper-vacancy in the Rust Belt. The good news is that communities far and wide are sharing their approaches to a shared challenge. Norm will share insights into how we got here and paths to escape the housing trap.

Norm Van Eeden Petersman is the Director of Membership and Development at Strong Towns and the Member Advocate. Norm has published articles on housing, transportation, faith, and culture and his writing appears regularly on the Strong Towns site.

Doors open at 5:45 p.m., tickets include beer, wine and appetizers.

Get your tickets at the link in our bio!

Address

664 Marsh St
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401

Website

https://buildingabetterslo.org/

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