Winston-Salem is a thriving, diverse and growing urban-suburban community. Like many cities in the United States, it is also a city that has a history of housing inequality due to redlining and other discriminatory practices and systemic racism.

The Olamina Commons project is an opportunity to right past wrongs and create a shared vision for what community can be. By leveraging new forward-thinking uniform development ordances, we can create a restorative microvillage in Winston Salem and give ourselves the opportunity to right past wrongs by intentionally designing and building a place that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. 

We hope this can be a model for other communities to follow, demonstrating that it is possible to break free from the patterns of the past and create a more just and sustainable future for all. 

Affordable Housing Developer Training 12/2024