School districts and universities are emerging as powerful anchor institutions, leveraging their real estate portfolios to advance affordable, workforce, and mixed-income housing. This session highlights two leading examples: the Austin Independent School District and the University of Virginia Foundation.
Panelists will share how these institutions moved from vision to execution, including the role of executive leadership, identifying development-ready sites, structuring partnerships, and navigating complex financing environments. The discussion will explore what private developers seek in institutional collaborations, how advisors help shape market-viable strategies, and why sustained stakeholder engagement is critical to success.
Attendees will gain insight into how education institutions can align mission, land assets, and community priorities to deliver housing solutions that preserve affordability while strengthening long-term community stability.