Building Community Through Missing Middle Housing & Small Business Support | EP#05

This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a movement for LOCALS ready to lead.In this powerful episode of Local Real Estate Developers, Garland Harris shares his journey creating affordable, innovative housing solutions rooted in community and equity in Houston.Garland dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of missing middle housing, zoning code changes, and designing developments that support small businesses and entrepreneurs who don’t fit the traditional mold. He discusses the vision behind his French Town Village project, the impact of city policies on live-work units, and the importance of thinking long-term to build neighborhoods where people can live, work, and thrive.Topics Covered Include: ✅ The evolution of Garland’s design and development career from flipping to missing middle housing ✅ How zoning and code changes impact affordability and access for small businesses ✅ Building with purpose: housing that supports community growth and economic opportunity ✅ Insights on retail and commercial spaces for minority entrepreneurs ✅ Future projects like French Town Village and expanding affordable, amenity-rich small housing ✅ Tools Garland created — like his density calculator — to simplify development decisions ✅ Education, coaching, and empowering new developers through courses and podcastsGarland also shares candid wisdom about the long game of community development — it’s not a sprint, but a steady race. 💡 “We haven’t scratched the surface yet. It’s a long race, and the work is just beginning.” – Garland Harris.👉 Ready to become a local developer in your town? Apply for the Mentorship:https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/dev-mentorship🎧 Access all platforms, the Developer Vault, and more: https://linktr.ee/localrealestatedeveloperGuest Name: Garland HarrisWebsite: https://middlehousingdesign.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garland-harris-jr-18b10848/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neighborhooddeveloper/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCenPLIVS0vI7EZM-1RJlklQ #LocalRealEstateDeveloper #ThinkBigStartLocal #RealEstateWithHeart #LREDPodcast #BuildWhatMatters #CommunityFirst #MissingMiddleHousing #SmallBusinessSupport #LongGameDevelopment