Categories: Real Estate, Land Use, and Community Law Administrative and Regulatory Law
Instructor(s) Alexander, Lisa
Housing & Community Economic Development Law
This is a multi-disciplinary
course in which students will study the specific laws and regulations, as well
as the business and policy considerations, that underlie efforts to create neighborhood-based
non-profit organizations, develop affordable and low-income housing, stimulate
jobs and entrepreneurship, establish community-based financial institutions, and
develop commercial real estate in low-income primarily urban communities. Although recent manifestations of Housing
&
war on poverty, urban renewal, redevelopment and community action efforts of
the 1960’s and 1970s, the new market-based approach to
is a distinct movement that began to flourish in the 1980’s during a period of
increased privatization and devolution of federal government stewardship of
public services. Students will contrast
this predominately market-based philosophy of
with the emerging equitable and accountable development movements. These
movements seek to ensure that low-income individuals are the primary stakeholders
and beneficiaries of development in their communities.
The central question in this course is: “What role do lawyers play in
question from multiple perspectives including: (1) learning the substantive
legal skill set of
performing in-class exercises; (3) hearing guest speakers discuss “live deals”;
(4) visiting
conducting research on critical
initiatives, through group service learning projects with Madison area
practitioners.
The main course requirements are
a 10-15 page final paper and participation in a research-based group service
learning project. This course is a
3-credit class and will be subject to a cap of fifteen students. Permission of
the professor is required.
