VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Koebel, C. Theodore"

Browsing by Author "Koebel, C. Theodore"

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The 2001 Virginia Rural Homeless Survey
Koebel, C. Theodore; Murphy, Michelle; Brown, Adam (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2001-09)
The Virginia Center for Housing Research was commissioned by the Virginia Housing Study Commission, the Virginia Interagency Action Council for the Homeless, and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct this research in response to House Joint Resolution 257 requesting a study of the number and needs of homeless people living in rural areas of the Commonwealth.
Adoption of High-Performance Housing Technologies Among U.S. Homebuilding Firms, 2000 Through 2010
McCoy, Andrew P.; Koebel, C. Theodore; Sanderford, Andrew R.; Franck, Christopher T.; Keefe, Matthew J. (HUD, 2015)
This article describes foundational processes of a larger project examining U.S. home builders’ choices to adopt innovative housing technologies that improve the environmental performance of new single-family homes. Home builders sit at a critical juncture in the housing creation decision chain and can influence how new housing units change related to energy consumption, and the units they produce can also reflect shifting technology, demography, and policy landscapes. With some exceptions, U.S. home builders have been characterized as being slow to adopt or resistant to the adoption of product and process innovations, largely because of path-dependent and risk-averse behavior. This article focuses on home builder choices by analyzing a summary of innovation adoption literature and that literature’s relationship to homebuilding. Researchers then describe analytical approaches for studying home builders’ choices and markets at a Core Based Statistical Area level, the data and statistical methodologies used in the study, and the policy implications for promoting energy efficiency in housing. Future work will draw on the foundation presented in this article to specify versions of this generic model and report results using improved quantitative analyses.
The Adoption of Low Impact Development by Local Governments
Jeong, Moonsun (Virginia Tech, 2010-03-25)
Low impact development (LID) is an innovative stormwater management technique that was introduced in early 1990s. However, the transition to use of this more sustainable method has been slow due to technical, institutional, and regulatory barriers to LID adoption. The research questions for this study are: What constitutes LID adoption? Why do localities adopt LID? What are the major factors that influenced the level of LID adoption by local governments? Specifically, this study focused on motivations and key determinants of LID adoption by local governments. By answering these questions, we will have better knowledge about how to approach the adoption process of environmental innovations. The findings of the study will benefit any potential localities considering LID adoption. The theory of diffusion of innovations is applied as it is very flexible to investigate complex topics like environmental innovation involving multiple factors and environments. To explore the role of local governments in LID adoption, sub-theories like organizational innovation and policy adoption are reviewed. Based on these theoretical foundations, four constructs of variables which include innovation, organizations, motivations, and surrounding organizational context are investigated. The case study method is used for eight counties (Amherst, Bedford, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Isle of Wight, Roanoke, Stafford, and Spotsylvania) and two cities (City of Charlottesville, City of Roanoke) in Virginia. Key informants from each locality were selected for in-depth interviews and additional document reviews for each case are used to support multiple case studies. LID adoption consists of various forms such as regulations, practices, and plans. A combination of all forms of LID activities and programs was used to measure LID adoption level. Based on nine criteria (i.e., adoption mode, use of the term "LID" in local codes, code details, LID manuals, demonstration projects, number of LID projects after LID code adoption, education programs, task force, and incentives), localities with three levels of LID adoption have been determined. Influencing factors of innovation adoption varied depending on level of LID adoption (high, moderate, and low). Therefore, strategies to promote environmental innovation should be developed in relation to the level of innovation adoption. The research findings revealed two major determinants that influenced the level of LID adoption. One is strong champions, and the other is regulatory mandates. A champion-driven LID adoption model is found in high level LID adoption localities. Usually, individuals from local governments, NGOs, and development communities have played a critical role in LID adoption process. The local government organizations in this group are usually self-motivated for innovation adoption. Especially, the presence of strong champions was identified as a key factor to the higher level of innovation adoption. On the other hand, a regulation-driven LID adoption model is found in moderate to low level LID adoption localities. These localities are strongly influenced by state regulatory mandates. In these cases, external forces motivate local governments to adopt innovations.
Affordable Housing Demand in Henrico County, Chesterfield County and City of Richmond
Koebel, C. Theodore; Byrd, Kevin R. (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2004-01)
This report assesses the demand for affordable housing in Henrico County, Chesterfield County, and the City of Richmond. The report This report shows the housing demand has continued to grow steadily in Henrico and Chesterfield Counties in both the owner and renter housing markets. However, in contrast, ownership demand decreased in the City of Richmond. The report projects this decline to accelerate during the next ten years.
Affordable Housing Policy: Integration of Land Use Tools and the Role of State Growth Management
Morrow, Melissa Josephine (Virginia Tech, 2001-06-13)
Affordable housing is recognized as a problem in many localities throughout the United States. Local governments have the power to influence housing affordability through land use policies. Land use tools exist to address affordable housing.. However, these tools are primarily used to address other environmental, economic, and social issues. When implemented to serve other land use objectives, these tools can have a negative impact on affordable housing. This paper will describe the link between land use regulations and affordable housing, suggest the land use tools necessary to encourage affordable housing from a state growth management perspective, and examine how California, Oregon, and the Portland Metropolitan Region have utilized the tools in their affordable housing policies. Finally, this paper applies the lessons learned from the cases to recommend further action to assist in the integration of land use tools as a means of advancing affordable housing goals.
Aging America: Essays on Population Aging and the Physical and Economic Landscapes in the United States
Fisher, Mary Caperton (Virginia Tech, 2010-08-11)
Major population shifts shape both economic and physical landscapes of nations because demographic and economic drivers are inextricably linked. This study follows a three essay approach focused on the impact of population aging on two broad categories, physical and economic development in the United States. Specifically, this dissertation investigates later life entrepreneurship, elder housing choices and the impact of aging on rural prosperity. It appears that age is a factor in later life labor force participation choices, with 61 to 70 year olds and those over 70 years of age exhibiting a greater tendency toward self-employment than their 50 to 60 year old counterparts. However, individuals over age 60 are more likely to retire than transition to self-employment. Still, economic developers should consider small business development programs that include even those ahead of the baby boomer cohort. Amongst recent mover households, age influences dwelling selection. Households headed by 50 to 69 year olds are more likely to move to single family dwellings of 1,000 to just under 3,000 square feet. Conversely, households headed by individuals aged 70 years or more, are more likely to select multi-family dwellings and in particular, smaller units (under 1,000 square feet). Thus, oldest individuals are more likely to relocate to the smallest, highest density units even after controlling for increased housing costs, shocks, income and children. These results suggest that older households are not homogenous in their housing preferences. As expected, population aging impacts rural prosperity. The effect is not significant for the proportion of the population aged 70 to 79 years. However, the greater the percentage of the population that is 50 to 59 years of old or 60 to 69 years old, the less likely a rural county is to be prosperous. Contrary to this finding, the greater the proportion of the population that is 80 years of age or older, the greater the likelihood of rural prosperity. It was originally hypothesized that rural areas may fall short of prosperity because of a mismatch between an aging labor force and the prevalence of physically demanding occupations - this is likely not the case.
The Allocation of Funds within HOPE VI: Applicants and Recipients
Murphy, LaShonia Michelle (Virginia Tech, 2012-03-29)
This dissertation examines the allocation of funds over the entire tenure of the HOPE VI, a public housing competitive grant, to determine if the program adhered to its program goals. This study focuses on the application and selection phases of HOPE VI. Moreover, this study looks to the scholarship on redistributive politics to gain an understanding of any deviations from projected program results. Within the context of an institutional policy analysis approach, this dissertation explores the consequences of using competitive grants as a policy tool for the HOPE VI program and postulates on its effects on program outcomes. An empirical analysis of the grant applicants and grant recipients finds that overall, large developments had a better rate in receiving grants and received more grants on their initial attempt. However, small public housing developments, which were not the focus of the HOPE VI program, submitted four times as many applications with a success rate of fifty-two percent. Overtime, cities with smaller populations are awarded more grants.
Analyzing Neighborhood Retail and Service Change in Six Cities
Koebel, C. Theodore (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2014-06-09)
Based on data from six U.S. cities, this report examines the relationships between changes in neighborhood retail and service establishments and independent variables measuring: demand from within the neighborhood; presence of negative externalities (e.g. public and other assisted housing, poverty, high school drop-outs, and population loss); and, discrimination due to race, household composition, or age of housing.
Assessing Housing and Redevelopment Strategies, Portsmouth, Virginia
Dawkins, Casey J.; Koebel, C. Theodore; Cavell, Marilyn S.; Renneckar, Patricia L.; Schilling, Joseph M. (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2007-07)
The main report consists of two components 1) Housing and Redevelopment Opportunities and 2) Housing Redevelopment Strategies. The third component is a special analysis completed by Dr. Ted Koebel's graduate level planning studio class at Virginia Tech. This stand alone student report provides valuable information that will benefit the City's future planning efforts, particularly in the area of vacant land reclamation. This report shows that overall, Portsmouth offers strong, stable neighborhoods and a variety of housing options. However, the challenge for Portsmouth is how to attract and retain more middle to high income residents while continuing to serve the needs of all its citizens.
Augusta County, Virginia Housing Assessment
Paulson, Joanna M.; Koebel, C. Theodore; Cavell, Marilyn S. (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2005-04)
This assessment describes 1990-2000 demographic and housing trends, projects growth from 2000-2020, and identifies important characteristics of the housing market in Augusta County.
A Behavioral Theory of Planning
Chance, Donald R. (Virginia Tech, 2007-08-14)
This dissertation introduces a new theory of practice for land planning in America based on behavioralism. It is called culture based incentive planning, or CBIP. The CBIP model and techniques are based on four pillars: cultural snesitivity, behavior analysis, engineered incentive regimes, and the tools of persuasion. CBIP is designed to provide an adaptable framework from which to approch regulatory reform in planning. The framework is applicable to the full range of planning implementation strategies from commond and control to market-based approaches. CBIP, as a systems model, has been engineered to create a cooperative rather than adversarial relationship between government and the regulated community by recognizing issues of cultural sensitivity, market response, and behavioral motivations. Under the model, effective implementation of planning objectives is directly tied to the role that incentives play in human behavior. Based on the foundation of incentive theory, CBIP integrates a variety of principles and techniques from applied behavior analysis and behavioral economics to align incentives that drive personal behavior with public planning objectives. CBIP utiliizes a variety of incentives in planning practice including economic, process, lifestyle, social, behavioral, and technical assistance inducements.
Bridging the Diffusion of Innovation Chasm for Green Housing
Sanderford, Andrew R. (Virginia Tech, 2013-08-28)
Limited transaction and unit attribute information curtail the diffusion potential of green homes and create significant valuation and underwriting problems for the housing debt capital markets, more specifically mortgage originators (lenders) and appraisers. Put into the context of the technology adoption life cycle this missing information prevents green homes from crossing the chasm into the mainstream market. As lenders and appraisers are the gatekeepers of the mainstream mortgage markets, they will be key stakeholders in any strategy for green homes to cross this chasm. The missing transaction and attribute data creates two opportunities for scholarship. The first opportunity is to create and provide preliminary evidence of the chasm in the green housing market place. The second opportunity is to analyze, in the context of this chasm, what information and tools appraisers are using, at present, to estimate the value of high performance homes.
Case Study of the Generation Connection Program: An Intergenerational Program Transfer Initiative
Wilcox, Janel Lynn (Virginia Tech, 2001-09-25)
The Generation Connection Program (GCP), an intergenerational program transfer initiative, was examined as the focus of this study in order to determine how an enabling agency approach can advance the implementation and sustainability of innovative intergenerational programs throughout a community. Teachers and long term care staff from three sites with active programs and staff from two sites that had disbanded programs participated in this study. Additional data included field notes from intergenerational program activities and orientations observations, journal articles, implementation package materials, newspaper articles, and the GCP s internal written documents. This study was largely exploratory, as the critical factors for the successful transfer of social programs are not clearly understood. Five themes emerged from the data: the process of program transfer as a continual process, the transfer of knowledge and skills, building collaborative relationships between long term care staff and teachers, continual innovation, and building capacity through networks. The findings suggest that a community-based managed network approach, combining central agency leadership with capacity in long term care centers and schools/child care centers, can advance the implementation and institutionalization of intergenerational programs.
A case study of the role of six Catholic social agencies as mediating structures in social welfare service provision in Virginia
Chew, Tracy (Virginia Tech, 1995-08-04)
This study explores the role of religious service organizations in social welfare provision by examining the activities of six social service/action agencies of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. It compares Diocesan agency operations with a profile drawn from existing knowledge of secular nonprofits and finds similarities. In particular, these religious service providers evidence degrees of marketization and dependence upon public and private funds. An empirical portrait of the purposes, organization, funding, programs and scope of delivery, target populations, advocacy role, and influence of the bishop reveals that these agencies provide many different services to a limited number of recipients. Agency leaders argued strongly that their organizations are already functioning at their maximum capacity. Agency directors interviewed believe that their organizations cannot significantly increase their current service capacity and analysis of their funding bases supports their claims. The study concludes with an analysis of the mediating role of these agencies in Virginia’s social welfare system. Two mediation theories, by Tocqueville (1840) and Berger and Neuhaus (1977) are tested. The Diocesan agencies are found to vary individually as mediating structures suggesting that religious organizations play diverse roles in social welfare provision in Virginia.
The Changing Role of Downtowns: An Examination of the Condition of Cities and Methods to Reinvent the Urban Core
Byrd, Kevin Ryan (Virginia Tech, 2004-04-28)
Downtowns across America have changed as a result of suburbanization. Population shifts and changing land consumption patterns caused by advancements in technology, such as the Interstate and the Internet, along with social and economic factors, alter downtown development. The city, and particularly its downtown, used to represent the nucleus for all commercial, retail, and industrial activities. As population and commerce suburbanized, the 'central' business district became one of several business centers and lost much of its retail function. Currently, cities are re-evaluating their development strategies to determine the best methods to attract people back to the urban core and to regain the vitality that once defined city life. Efforts to redevelop downtowns typically assume the characteristics of place-based strategies by following either infrastructure strategies or consumer strategies. The former method is more traditional, with attention given to specific land uses, such as residential, retail, or entertainment activities. Essentially, infrastructure strategies rely on the 'build it and they will come' motto. Consumer strategies strive to attract young professionals, single-parent families, and "empty nesters" for urban living by accentuating amenities unique to the city lifestyle. Roanoke, Virginia serves as a case study for evaluating suburbanization trends and methods of redevelopment for a small- to medium-sized city. By calculating and analyzing household and office employment projections, the Roanoke market shows signs of strength among young, renter households and Central Business District office employment. With a downtown residential market emerging and downtown office employment growing, adaptive reuse of urban space may prove to be Roanoke's method of reinventing its downtown by orchestrating a consumer-based redevelopment effort.
Characteristics of Innovative Production Home Builders
Koebel, C. Theodore; Cavell, Marilyn S. (Virginia Center for Housing Research, 2006-06)
The purpose of this study was to advance the understanding of building technology innovation among production builders in particular and conceptually for the homebuilding industry at large.
Commercialization for Innovative Products in the Residential Construction Industry
McCoy, Andrew P. (Virginia Tech, 2008-07-25)
This work presents the development of a new framework for the commercialization of innovative products in the residential construction industry. It is the aim of this work to identify commercialization decisions, actions, risks, barriers and accelerators specific to the residential construction industry market that will increase the acceptance of product innovations for those developing them. Commercialization is broadly defined as the process of developing a business enterprise from an idea, through feasibility and implementation, to its acceptance into a market (USDOE 1999, Goldsmith 2003). Commercialization frameworks describe the concurrent decisions and actions along the innovation development process, optimizing all of the technical and business decisions required for a successful introduction to the marketplace. Successful commercialization frameworks serve as a form of development plan, promoting solutions to questions and problems that arise along the development path. This research derives such a framework for the commercialization of innovative products and makes it specific to residential construction through the following tasks: 1. Understanding standard terminology: defining innovation and commercialization as they relate to this work. 2. Creating a lens for the unique nature of commercialization in this industry: deriving a commercialization framework (matrix) from the research literature in business, construction, and concurrent engineering, capable of accepting later alterations. 3. Understanding the manufacturer's role and risks: conducting case study interviews for fifteen innovative residential construction products that specify important tasks, risks and benefits for commercialization. 4. Understanding the role, risks and benefits of builders, as users of innovation: comparing case studies and workshop surveys of many residential construction industry players that focus on the builder to establish parameters for the innovation commercialization matrix. 5. Linking both manufacturer and builder: comparing manufacturer commercialization best-practices with builder adoption patterns for innovative products over time.
Compassionately Hidden: The Church Telling Local Homeless to “Come to Our House"
Oliver, Robert D.; Robinson, Matthew; Koebel, C. Theodore (Gamma Theta Upsilon, 2015)
In early 2011, the To Our House (TOH) thermal shelter program opened its doors to homeless men in the New River Valley Area (NRV) of Virginia. The program was a grass roots response to the death of a well-known local homeless man and the goal of the program is to provide winter shelter for single adult men by using rotating host sites at local churches. We highlight that in the NRV local churches have sought to remedy a socially unjust situation by providing shelter for men that was previously unavailable. We illustrate that faith-based outreach in the New River Valley can be viewed as positive compassionate outreach by a caring community. While acknowledging the benefits of this compassionate outreach to more than 25 men in the NRV, we also offer a cautionary note regarding the dilemmas of this outreach suggesting that it has the potential to mask the problems of the local housing market.
Constricted Urban Planning: Investigating the Site and Suitability of Low-Income Housing in Fairfax County, Virginia
Van Atta, Michael David (Virginia Tech, 2013-06-12)
Increasing suburban poverty and the extremely high housing costs of growing metropolitan areas amplify the importance of suburban low-income housing programs. Aside from traditional hurdles to social and economic mobility, suburban low-income households are confronted by impediments that are inherent to sprawling, fragmented suburban landscapes with poor access. This research investigates the site suitability of a booming suburban region, Fairfax County, Virginia, for low-income housing. To do so, this research identifies and explains location amenities and neighborhood characteristics that maximize the success of low-income housing programs for low-income households, and explores how suburban landscapes constrict the ability of policymakers and planners to incorporate such location considerations into low-income housing planning. Using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model, the site suitability of Fairfax County, Virginia for low-income housing is examined. Results highlight numerous location amenities in a heavily developed suburban environment, yielding overall decent low-income housing site suitability scores across Fairfax County. However, the sprawling nature of Fairfax County also provides few optimal locations for low-income housing development. The incorporation of key location amenities in strategic locations as well as modern planning techniques hinging on new urbanism and smart growth concepts are emphasized to improve low-income housing suitability in many American suburbs. This research links GIS methodology with social policy, providing policymakers and planners with a tool to analyze the spatial distribution of critical location amenities and low-income housing development.
Country Ain't Country No More: A Typology of the Nation's Fast-Growing Peripheral Counties
Gough, Meghan Zimmerman (Virginia Tech, 2003-06-30)
This study uses data on the fast-growing peripheral counties located in the 50 largest metropolitan areas to test the null hypothesis that counties located on the metropolitan fringe are demographically homogenous. Using multivariate analysis, the analysis statistically identifies distinct groups of counties in the metropolitan fringe. In contrast to much of the standard literature, the research rejects the null hypothesis and suggests that more than one exurbia exists. This study also explores the varying pressures and demands faced by the different exurban county types in response to massive and compounding growth stresses, recognizing the complexity of managing growth in the fringe and the implications for planners. It is expected that counties identified as "similar" will experience common-responses to different programs and policies addressing growth pressures. Similar counties should therefore use these results to facilitate information exchange concerning successful or unsuccessful strategies.

Browsing by Author "Koebel, C. Theodore"

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