Kate Gasparro - Podcast Details

Shows

Building Better Cities Overcoming friction to build regenerative cities with Eric Corey FreedIf we know how to build healthier, more sustainable and regenerative buildings, why do so few of them actually get built?This conversation focuses on the execution gap holding cities, developers, and institutions back from delivering better places for people. Despite decades of innovation in materials, design strategies, and performance data, progress often stalls when good ideas collide with risk-averse systems, outdated assumptions, and institutional friction.Our guest is Eric Corey Freed, an architect and longtime leader in regenerative design. Drawing on his experience working at Eco Districts, the Living Future Institute, and now with...

2026-02-0434 min

Talking Headways: A Streetsblog Podcast Episode 184: Mondays at The Overhead Wire - The Oldest Transit with Kate GasparroThis week on Mondays at The Overhead Wire we're joined by Kate Gasparro, host of the Building Better Cities podcast! We talk about the first transit system invented by mathematician Blaise Pascal, whether design is making the housing shortage worse, LA Metro's new Care Based Services Division, and whether Chicago should have taken back it's parking meters from private equity. Below are the items we discussed in greater detail: The first transit system - France Today LA Metro's new Care Based Services Division - Los Angeles Sentinel Ugly buildings and the d...

2026-01-2749 min

Building Better Cities What it really takes to save a downtown with Mayor White of Greenville, SCDowntowns across the country are struggling after COVID — with empty storefronts, declining foot traffic, and major uncertainty about the future of office districts and city centers.In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Mayor Knox White of Greenville, South Carolina to unpack what it really takes to save a downtown — and why Greenville’s approach has become a national model for mid-sized cities.Greenville, SC is now known for its walkable Main Street, mixed-use downtown living, and the transformation of the Reedy River into Falls Park. But that success was fa...

2026-01-2135 min

Building Better Cities Replay: Can rebuilding for resilience make insurance affordable? (with Alisa Valderrama)One year ago, the Los Angeles wildfires made one thing unmistakably clear: climate risk is no longer peripheral to urban life — it is a defining condition for many cities. The loss of thousands of homes has forced urgent questions about how to rebuild in climate-risk areas.Homeowners are facing rising insurance costs — further exacerbating the affordability crisis. Earlier this year, we explored how pricing climate risk into insurance could create a pathway for insurers to re-enter these markets. Beyond that approach, there are more efforts to make insurance more affordable. But without fundamentally changing how we design for...

2026-01-0826 min

Building Better Cities How mission-driven development pencils on Chicago’s South Side — with Byron BrazierHow do you make mission-driven development pencil in a neighborhood shaped by decades of disinvestment?In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with J. Byron Brazier, lead developer of Woodlawn Central, a nearly $895 million mixed-use development on Chicago’s South Side anchored by the Apostolic Church of God. Together, they explore how community-led, faith-based development can drive large-scale urban regeneration without displacement.The conversation dives into how Woodlawn Central is moving forward without relying on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and how financing tools like joint ventures, phased development, and fut...

2025-12-1832 min

Building Better Cities The housing system is broken- can upzoning save it? (with Ben Metcalf)Why is housing so expensive — and what are states doing about it? Well... California has passed SB 79 to spur transit-oriented development. This upzoning will leverage infrastructure investments to increase supply and build more sustainable cities. To unpack what that means, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Ben Metcalf, Managing Director of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley and one of the nation’s leading experts on housing policy, zoning reform, and development feasibility. Ben brings a rare, full-spectrum view of the housing system — from his experience as a developer, to shaping national policy at HUD und...

2025-12-0433 min

Building Better Cities Replay: How urban design fosters stronger communities with Dr. Andrew SontaWhen the Building Better Cities podcast launched just over a year ago, we set out to explore how we design and deliver the infrastructure and buildings that shape our lives.So this week, Kate is revisiting the very first episode of the podcast — a conversation with Dr. Andrew Sonta that explores the connection between the urban form and social cohesion. His work at EPFL focuses on human interaction in the built environment. And, since the conversation, more studies have expanded on this idea, showing something fascinating — and a little troubling. Even as our cities are built to enab...

2025-11-1325 min

Building Better Cities Tulsa's bold model for restorative development with Ashley Philippsen and Dr. Lana Turner-AddisonMore than a century after the Tulsa Race Massacre devastated Black Wall Street, the land where that thriving community once stood is again shaping Tulsa’s future. The 56 acres of Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood, long defined by stalled redevelopment and distrust, are now the focus of a community-led effort to restore both land and power.In this episode, Kate speaks with Ashley Philippsen and Dr. Lana Turner-Addison, co-chairs of the Kirkpatrick Heights–Greenwood Master Plan. Ashley is Executive Director of ImpactTulsa and a former Deputy Chief of Community Development and Policy for the City of Tulsa. Dr. Turn...

2025-10-3032 min

Building Better Cities The battle over Penn Station's redevelopment with Claire ReadPenn Station has long been more than just a transit hub — it’s a mirror of New York itself: ambitious, messy, and perpetually under construction. Decades after the original station opened, financial troubles forced its owners to sell the air rights above, paving the way for Madison Square Garden. Now, the station is poised to embark on a new chapter of redevelopment.In this episode, host Kate Gasparro sits down with documentarian Claire Read to discuss her film Penn F---ing Station, which traces years of high-stakes political maneuvering, community resistance, and evolving design visions for the station’s rene...

2025-10-1429 min

Building Better Cities Building a net-zero neighborhood for the future with Matt GrocoffIn Ann Arbor, Michigan, a bold experiment in community building is underway. Veridian at County Farm is a 14-acre net-zero neighborhood redefining what sustainable living can look like.In this episode, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Matt Grocoff, the visionary developer behind Veridian. Matt shares the story of how he discovered the site, the ethos driving its design, and how a virtual power plant with onsite solar and batteries will allow the community to be self-sufficient while also serving as an asset to the regional grid.Together, Kate and Matt also explore how Veridian...

2025-09-3029 min

Building Better Cities From vacancy to vertical village and beyond with Todd RichardsonIn 2017, a long-vacant Sears distribution center on Cleveland Street in Memphis was reborn as Crosstown Concourse—a “vertical urban village.” The 1.5 million square foot behemoth is now home to healthcare, a high school, art galleries, a YMCA, restaurants, and 265 apartments. For decades after Sears shuttered in 1993, the Crosstown corridor slipped off the city’s mental map—boarded storefronts, empty sidewalks, and years of disinvestment. Today, the investments and energy imbued at Crosstown Concourse has become a catalyst for neighborhood revival, from a partnership with Live Nation to build a new music venue to more than 30 acres of mixed use r...

2025-09-0337 min

Building Better Cities Shaping vibrant neighborhoods with infill development with Shruti Shankar and Roberto JenkinsBig visions for our cities often start with ambitious master plans—20-acre sites, sweeping infrastructure, and promises of transformation. But as exciting as they sound, these projects can struggle under the weight of financing challenges, shifting market cycles, and the difficulty of sustaining community engagement over decades.On the other end of the spectrum are smaller, more incremental interventions: storefront upgrades, parklets, infill housing, and neighborhood-scale design moves that reshape our everyday experience of place. These fine-grained efforts can feel more organic, more participatory, and often create some of the most beloved neighborhoods we know today....

2025-08-2132 min

Building Better Cities The public realm and the resistance of placemaking with Aaron PaleyWhat happens when you close off miles of city streets to cars—and open them up to people instead? In Los Angeles, that question gave rise to CicLAvia, a now-iconic open streets event that has redefined how Angelenos experience public space.This week, host Kate Gasparro is joined by Aaron Paley, the co-founder of Community Arts Resources and one of the key visionaries behind CicLAvia. For decades, Aaron has been at the forefront of cultural programming and creative placemaking. His work shows how temporary interventions—when rooted in community, art, and culture—can challenge entrenched ideas about urban...

2025-08-0730 min

Building Better Cities Who rebuilds LA? Planning post-fire recovery with Dr. Minjee KimWhen disaster strikes, it reveals not just the vulnerabilities in our built environment—but also the opportunity to rebuild with more intention. In the wake of the devastating LA wildfires earlier this year, conversations about recovery have expanded into questions of long-term resiliency, equitable redevelopment, and what kind of governance structures are needed to get there.To unpack these issues, Dr. Minjee Kim, an Assistant Professor in Urban Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, joins the podcast. Dr. Kim’s research sits at the intersection of real estate development, public finance, and urban planning—making...

2025-07-1031 min

Building Better Cities How purple states foster consensus and build with Brian RegliAbundance is about the promise of building more, more effectively. But getting there requires more than big laws—it takes local capacity, political will, and the ability to turn ambition into action.In this episode, Kate Gasparro sit down with Brian Regli, a former top advisor in Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration in Pennsylvania. They talk about what it’s like to be on the inside of a purple-state government translating federal policy into tangible progress. From lead pipe replacement and broadband expansion to industrial decarbonization and mine land solar, Brian shares the realities behind the rhetoric—where su...

2025-06-2533 min

Building Better Cities The Implementation Era: building beyond the big bills with Zach KolodinBetween 2021 and 2024, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act approved nearly $2 trillion in public investments. These investments were allocated to repair aging infrastructure, advance clean energy, and build toward a more connected, resilient future. But funding alone doesn’t build projects. In this episode, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s former Chief Infrastructure Officer, who built and led one of the nation’s first infrastructure offices during a period of extraordinary federal investment. Earlier this year, Zach started Pont Advisory and Pont Law to advise both public and private...

2025-06-1031 min

Building Better Cities Detroit's new model for scaling urban innovation with Kevin MullMany high-profile smart city projects have missed the mark—not because the technology didn’t work, but because the process left people behind. That’s why a new model is emerging—one grounded in collaboration, transparency, and the idea that urban innovation should create value not just for investors, but for entrepreneurs, neighborhoods, and the public at large.In Detroit, Bedrock is helping lead this shift. In this episode, host Kate Gasparro talks with Kevin Mull, Senior Director of Urban Strategy and Innovation at Bedrock and Co-Founder of the Urban Tech Xchange and the Detroit Smart Parking Lab. In...

2025-05-2131 min

Building Better Cities Scaling value and resilience through district utility systems with Daniel HansenWhat if entire neighborhoods shared integrated infrastructure—cutting costs, boosting performance, and unlocking real climate resilience?That’s the promise of district utility systems: shared infrastructure networks that serve multiple buildings with centralized solutions. From recovering waste heat and recycling greywater to deploying resilient solar-plus-storage microgrids, these systems offer a more holistic—and scalable—way to build sustainable communities.In this episode, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Daniel Hansen, Managing Partner of NEXT Infrastructure, to explore why district utility systems are gaining traction—and what it takes to make them work. With a background in civil e...

2025-05-0627 min

Building Better Cities Catalyzing urban change through institutional impact with Alex FeldmanHow do you turn institutional ambition into a catalyst for community change? This week on Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Alex Feldman of U3 Advisors, a firm working at the intersection of anchor institutions and urban revitalization. From Detroit to Memphis to Philadelphia, U3 has helped universities and hospitals rethink their role in the cities they call home—not just as employers or landowners, but as partners in development.They talk about how U3 has helped create lasting institutions like the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, why building trust between universities and nei...

2025-04-1628 min

Building Better Cities Placemaking to build (upon) pride and participation with Carol ColettaIf you’ve spent any time in the world of placemaking, chances are you've been influenced—directly or indirectly—by the work of Carol Coletta. From her early days with the Mayors’ Institute on City Design to her leadership at the Memphis River Parks Partnership—Carol has consistently pushed cities to be more ambitious, more welcoming, and more connected.Now, she’s entering a new chapter, helping visionary leaders and organizations navigate the future of placemaking and build the partnerships needed to make public spaces thrive. In this episode, Kate speaks with Carol about what has guided her work acr...

2025-03-2832 min

Building Better Cities Infrastructure projects in a shifting federal policy landscape with Chris LivingstoneFederal funding can make or break an infrastructure project—but what happens when the rules change overnight?In this episode, Kate Gasparro is joined by Chris Livingstone, a seasoned expert in infrastructure finance and transaction structuring, with nearly 25 years of experience shaping major projects like the Washington Union Station Expansion and helping agencies like LA Metro navigate the complexities of funding, financial modeling, and public-private partnerships.Chris isn’t just advising on mega deals—he’s also demystifying the challenges of delivering infrastructure through his weekly video series, offering insights into what it really takes to get p...

2025-03-1331 min

Building Better Cities Crowdfunding public good and the future of community-backed projects with Brian RossHave you ever wondered how you could truly invest in your community—not just symbolically, but with real equity?This week on Building Better Cities, Kate Gasparro sits down with Brian Ross of InfraShares to explore how equity crowdfunding is reshaping infrastructure finance. For the last decade, Brian has combined his expertise in infrastructure finance with a passion for community-driven investment, challenging the traditional model of relying on private equity firms and institutional investors.Instead of funneling returns to foreign firms seeking stable, low-risk investments, InfraShares is working with municipalities and developers to flip the sc...

2025-02-2533 min

Building Better Cities How addressing embodied carbon can strengthen U.S. manufacturing with Anish TilakBuildings contribute nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, with a significant share coming from embodied carbon—the hidden emissions in the materials we use to build. In this episode, Kate Gasparro sits down with Anish Tilak, a leader in RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings program, to explore how Buy Clean and Buy America policies are shaping the future of sustainable construction.They discuss the latest innovations in low-carbon concrete and cleaner steel production and how transforming the materials sector can strengthen the U.S. economy and drive job creation.With a shifting political landscape, what’s next for em...

2025-02-0529 min

Building Better Cities The role of public finance in driving transformative developments with Ken KalynchukHow do you close the financial gap between ambition and execution in urban development? In this episode of Building Better Cities, Kate Gasparro sits down with Ken Kalynchuk of Project Management Consultants to explore the world of public finance in the Midwest's largest and most iconic developments. From tax increment financing to historic tax credits, Ken explains how creative financial tools can bring transformative projects to life. Learn how Ohio is leading the way with proactive incentive programs and what other regions can take away from it's approach to tackling brownfields, workforce housing, and more. Resources: ...

2025-01-2232 min

Building Better Cities FutureProof-ing cities and pricing climate risk with Alisa ValderramaIn 2023, national insurance companies pulled out of Florida and California, citing escalating climate risks. Since then, natural disasters have only intensified, forcing property owners and developers to confront a critical challenge: How do we protect homes and investments in climate-risk areas?Following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, these questions have taken center stage—not just in impacted areas, but in all regions vulnerable to climate change.In this episode, host Kate Gasparro speaks with Alisa Valderrama, founder of FutureProof. As a climate-based insurtech start-up, FutureProof prices climate risk using insurance data and weather models. Drawing on de...

2025-01-0726 min

Building Better Cities Neighborhood Trusts and how they prevent community displacement with David KemperNeighborhoods in the path of growth often attract investment, bringing new jobs and amenities—but they also create conditions ripe for gentrification and displacement. In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with David Kemper, co-founder of Trust Neighborhoods, to explore solutions that put power back in the hands of residents.Over the past five years, David and his team have pioneered Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trusts (MINTs) to counteract gentrification and ensure community stability. Drawing on his extensive background in affordable housing and urban development—including key roles under New York City Mayors Bloomberg and...

2024-12-1033 min

Building Better Cities Taking LA's housing projects from permits to construction with Jenna HornstockWhile the housing crisis may seem like the topic du jour, Los Angeles has spent decades grappling with this problem: too many people, too few homes. In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro talks with Jenna Hornstock about local government's role in driving housing construction. As LA's Deputy Mayor for Housing, Jenna played a critical role in repositioning the city to increase housing supply. Together, they discuss how permitting new projects is not enough. Local governments are being asked to carve new pathways toward construction.Sources:LA City’s Executive Directive 1LA4LA...

2024-11-1830 min

Building Better Cities Trends in urban mobility and the TDM advantage with Lauren MatternIn this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro interviews Lauren Mattern, a leader in Travel Demand Management (TDM) with two decades of experience working with major transit agencies including San Francisco’s MTA and Transport for London. Lauren's current work with Journey is focused on helping cities and developers find better solutions for urban mobility. They discuss how TDM strategies like transit vouchers, congestion pricing, and bike/ped infrastructure investments shift how people move through our cities. Listen as they share how trends in urban mobility impact how we build better cities!Sources:Donald Sh...

2024-11-0427 min

Building Better Cities Better blueprints for mega urban developments with Adam FriedbergIn this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro talks with Adam Friedberg about the core dynamics behind mega urban development projects. With Adam's leadership of Buro Happold's Cities Team, they discuss how sustainable infrastructure and a focus on community growth has helped revitalize Lake Erie communities and create South Korea's Songdo. Tune in to learn how these mega projects come together to build better cities!Sources:NY governor Cuomo unveils revitalization plan for Erie CanalBuilding a City from Scratch: The Story of Songdo, KoreaSend us a textT...

2024-10-2227 min

Building Better Cities Easing the energy burden throughout the Midwest with Ben DuewekeIn this episode of Building Better Cities, we’re taking a deep dive into rising household energy costs. Host Kate Gasparro revisits a 2022 conversation with Ben Dueweke, Director of Public Partnerships at Walker-Miller Energy Services, whose work focuses on reducing the energy burden in communities throughout the Midwest. Tune in to learn how energy efficiency and weatherization initiatives are reducing the energy burden and helping us build better cities.Sources:USA.gov's home weatherization and energy effiency asistance programsDOE's Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance RebatesIRS' Energy Efficient Home Improvement Cr...

2024-10-0727 min

Building Better Cities How urban design fosters stronger communities with Dr. Andrew SontaIn this inaugural episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro chats with Dr. Andrew Sonta, about how urban design shapes social interactions. From third spaces to post-COVID city centers, they explore how thoughtful planning can foster stronger, more cohesive communities. Tune in to learn more and gain actionable insights for building better cities! Sources:Rethinking walkability: Exploring the relationship between the urban form and neighborhood social cohesion. Send us a textThanks for listening to Building Better Cities! If you'd like to stay connected, don't forget to Subscribe and Follow.

2024-09-1829 min

Warda Winds of Change Finale - Part Two Part two of the thrilling, full cast audio drama conclusion of Winds of Change. CAST: Mary Kate Arnold Bill Gordon Kate Booth Nathan Thompson Shanna Brown Alexis Cohen-Pena Justin Blankenship Amy Powell Frank Gasparro JJ Littlefield Mel D'Amato Eli Kurtz Stephen Kropa Kat Kuhl Pranks Paul James D'Amato Theme music by Arne Parrott - http://www.atptunes.com Background music by Kevin MacLoed - http://www.incompetech.com Sounds from freesound.org. Full listing of...

2018-10-311h 38

Warda Winds of Change Finale - Part One Part one of the thrilling, full cast audio drama conclusion of Winds of Change. CAST: Mary Kate Arnold Bill Gordon Kate Booth Nathan Thompson Shanna Brown Alexis Cohen-Pena Justin Blankenship Amy Powell Frank Gasparro JJ Littlefield Mel D'Amato Eli Kurtz Stephen Kropa Kat Kuhl Pranks Paul James D'Amato Theme music by Arne Parrott - http://www.atptunes.com Background music by Kevin MacLoed - http://www.incompetech.com Sounds from freesound.org. Full listing of...

2018-10-311h 53