Reimagining the suburban downtown for affordable living
J. David Chapman/November 13, 2025
This week, I had the honor of speaking at the 2025 Oklahoma Housing Summit, hosted by the Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing (OCAH) in Oklahoma City. The annual summit brought together hundreds of professionals – developers, property managers, lenders, public officials, and advocates – each working toward one shared goal: ensuring that every Oklahoman has access to a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home.
The event featured a strong lineup of sessions ranging from Fair Housing for Property Managers, led by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, to Housing Stability Program training presented by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. Attendees explored timely topics such as Housing First, 3D-printed homes, rural housing innovation, and the Oklahoma Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. Each session emphasized collaboration, creative problem-solving, and the growing recognition that housing is not just about construction – it’s about people. The breadth of discussion underscored how multifaceted the housing challenge has become – part law, part finance, part design, and entirely human.
My session, titled “Reimagining the Suburban Downtown for Affordable Living and Lasting Community,” focused on how suburban cities can evolve to meet the realities of modern affordability. Drawing from my book subURBAN! and experiences in Edmond, I shared how walkability, density, adaptive reuse, mixed-use design, and transit-oriented development (TOD) can create vibrant communities that remain attainable for residents of all income levels.
Affordability doesn’t have to mean compromise. Through zoning reform, creative financing, and thoughtful public-private partnerships, cities can balance fiscal responsibility with livability—building places people can truly afford to love. One essential piece of that puzzle is transit. Reliable regional transit connects people to opportunity while reducing transportation costs that often undermine affordability. In Central Oklahoma, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is advancing commuter rail plans linking Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Norman – a transformative connection that will support affordable housing in walkable, connected districts.
Transit-oriented development allows residents to live, work, and shop without relying entirely on cars. For suburban cities like Edmond, it’s a chance to reimagine downtown not just as a place to visit – but as a place to live, connect, and thrive.
The Oklahoma Housing Summit serves as a reminder that affordable housing is not just about units – it’s about community, opportunity, and dignity. It was a privilege to share ideas on how reimagining the suburban downtown can be part of Oklahoma’s housing solution.
J. David Chapman is the chair of finance and professor of real estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).