Attracting Private Investment to a High-Poverty Neighborhood
City: Logan, Australia
Reporting to: Chief of Staff to the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer
The Challenge
Logan is a city of about 400,000 residents located just south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. In the Woodridge neighborhood, there is entrenched intergenerational disadvantage owing to the large number of social housing units built by the Queensland state government in the 1960s and 70s. The 20 percent unemployment rate in Woodridge is double the average in the State of Queensland, and the social housing stock is aging, blighted, and in need of renewal. Most of the available housing is occupied by singles or couples in multi-family homes, with an immediate need for more one- and two-bedroom options. There have been numerous state and local attempts to revitalize the area, including local council investments in footpaths, lighting, artwork, trees, and other streetscape improvements. However, private-sector investment has been reluctant to follow.
Logan Mayor Jon Raven sees a new opportunity to attract private investment to Woodridge, which sits adjacent to the town center. In 2032, Brisbane will host the Summer Olympics, and preparations are underway. A new Indoor Sports Center located not far from Woodridge will serve as one of the Olympic venues, and offers development opportunities on nearby council-owned land. Ahead of the Olympics, the Woodridge train station will be upgraded for faster regional rail connections to Brisbane and other nearby cities. Meanwhile, the council is developing a fifty-year vision through a community reference group engagement process called Transform Logan. Leaders hope to spark private investment to upgrade and expand mixed-income and affordable social and public housing by building new higher-density buildings, bringing new amenities, and improving quality of life in Woodridge.
Key questions include:
- What innovative models of housing redevelopment exist around the world that Logan could emulate?
- What would incentivize private investors to renovate and build new housing in Woodridge?
- How can the Queensland government, as the operator of more than 400 parcels with social housing, be engaged in efforts to upgrade housing stock and partner with the private sector?
- Could pension funds or philanthropy partner in building new housing in Woodridge?
- How can redevelopment in Woodridge best benefit existing residents and minimize displacement?
What You’ll Do
The summer fellow will assess the landscape of previous efforts and new opportunities to revitalize Woodridge, and recommend innovative ways to encourage investment, development, and transformation. The fellow will ground these recommendations in research and analysis of successful policies elsewhere, market trends, and engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders. Stakeholders will include local councilors, state and federal housing leaders, for-profit and nonprofit housing developers, pension funds, and philanthropies.
Key deliverables include:
- An assessment of successful housing renewal examples from other countries and lessons for Logan.
- A recommendation of the project scope and structure with the highest potential to deliver housing renewal outcomes in partnership with Woodridge’s private sector.
- An action plan with short-term and long-term steps for the council to consider, based on analysis and stakeholder engagement.
- A pitch to the Queensland Government’s Housing Minister and pension funds about this opportunity.
What You’ll Bring
The fellow will be expected to possess the following skills:
- Data Analysis
- Policy Analysis
- Design Thinking
- Financial Modeling
- Political Communication
