Building Belonging
Stories and strategy from the JM Goldson team on planning for equitable, sustainable, and authentic places.
At JM Goldson, we believe that planning is about more than policies and zoning—it’s about people, place, and possibility. Building Belonging is our space to share insights from the field, reflections on practice, and stories from the communities we’re honored to work with.
Here, you’ll find perspectives on housing, community engagement, preservation, and the everyday work of building places where everyone can thrive.
Whether you’re a municipal leader, fellow planner, or simply passionate about inclusive communities, we hope this blog feels like a conversation you’re part of, not just a window you’re peering into.
Let’s build belonging, together.
BROWSE TOPICS:
It Was Never Really All About Property Values
Every planner has heard some version of it. "People only oppose housing because they're trying to protect their property values."
It's become one of those explanations that gets repeated so often it starts to feel like fact. But new research suggests the story may be much more complicated.
The Power of Local: Courage, Care, and Clarity in Community Planning
Jenn explores the emotional weight and quiet courage of community planning in today’s divided climate, reminding planners and local leaders why showing up, imperfectly, honestly, and together, still matters.
Solving the Housing Affordability Crisis with Community-Led Housing
How Community Land Trusts Build the Future One Neighborhood at a Time
Learning from the Past: What Historic Villages Can Teach Us About Modern Zoning
What if the neighborhoods we love most—leafy streets, front porches, corner stores—are technically illegal to build today? It sounds absurd, but it’s true in town after town. Here’s how we got here—and how we can fix it.
Break the Mold: A Smarter Way for Affordable Housing Developers to Engage Communities
WRITTEN BY JENN GOLDSON
What My Grandmother’s Apartment Taught Me About Housing, Change, and Why Density Matters
WRITTEN BY JENN GOLDSON