Testimonial: Clearer Information, Faster Housing

Ask anyone working in development and construction what stands between an idea and a finished project, and funding may be one of the first responses. But look a little deeper and there’s a second bottleneck that gets less attention, but be just as costly: information.

Can this property be developed? What zoning applies? What infrastructure is available? What environmental constraints exist? What permits will be required? Is this even a viable site?

These are basic questions. But when answering them takes weeks of emails, phone calls, and meetings, projects lose momentum before they've really started.

On Oregon's South Coast, we're working with regional partners, stakeholders, and community members to change that. Don’t just take our word for it; hear it from them directly. 

A Regional Effort, Built on Local Leadership

This testimonial posted on Linkedin came from Matt Vorderstrasse, Executive Director at North Bend/Coos-Curry Housing Authorities: “Housing doesn't just get delayed by funding. Sometimes it gets delayed by information.”

What did UrbanForm do that warranted that post? 

We brought parcel-level zoning intelligence to the South Coast in partnership with Southern Oregon Coast Regional Housing, whose leadership, along with Stephanie Hadley's championing of regional collaboration, helped turn a shared vision into something real.

“Together, this region is reducing barriers, shortening development timelines, and creating a stronger pipeline for affordable housing across the South Coast.

Instead of hunting through multiple agencies and databases, builders, developers, real estate professionals, local governments, and property owners can access critical planning information in one place.“

What This Actually Changes

The impact goes beyond convenience. When zoning answers are easy to find, planning staff spend less time repeating the same information and more time on the complex problems that actually need their attention. Developers can evaluate sites faster. Uncertainty goes down. And the distance between an idea and a housing project gets shorter.

As Matthew put it:

"Sometimes innovation isn't about changing the rules. It's about making the rules easier to understand. Housing production is a systems challenge. The better we connect information, the faster communities can create the housing they need."

That idea sits at the center of this partnership. Housing production is a systems challenge, and pressure shows up throughout the entire continuum, not just at the funding stage. Reducing friction anywhere in that system, including in how information moves, helps housing get built.

Learn More

Visit urbanform.us to see how UrbanForm is supporting jurisdictions across Oregon, including this growing partnership on the South Coast.