BUILDING SOLUTIONS: GHBA TACKLES PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT BARRIERS
The Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) has been working to address challenges that the local homebuilding and development community has faced by advocating for reforms and partnering with city leaders. The association has supported the city's 30-Day Residential Permit Pilot, which aims to issue single-family permits more efficiently, with early results showing a majority of projects approved within two review cycles (https://www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/news-events/30-day-residential-permitting-pilot-sees-strong-start-earns-praise-mayor-whitmire). In Harris County, a recent proposal would have increased some permit and plan review fees by up to 600%, but thanks to GHBA's work with a coalition of other industry groups, the County agreed to phase in increases only as benchmarks for improved service were achieved (https://ghba.org/harris-county-commissioners-adopt-ghba-supported-fee-plan/).
Beyond the City of Houston, GHBA is pushing back against building moratoriums in fast-growing areas like Conroe, where water infrastructure constraints halted new development in some areas of the community for months (https://ghba.org/a-big-win-in-conroe-development-moratorium-ends/). By advocating for long-term infrastructure planning and consistent regulations, GHBA is working to ensure the region can meet demand without arbitrary slowdowns. These efforts, combined with innovations in building practices and ongoing policy reforms, offer a path to maintain housing supply in Greater Houston despite mounting pressures from costs, climate risk, and regulatory complexity.
- Aimee Bertrand, Executive VP and CEO for GHBA
HOUSTON HAVEN FALL LUNCH
We had our biggest turnout yet at this year's Houston Haven Fall Lunch, a beautiful afternoon supporting an even more beautiful mission.
What made this event extra special was the personal touch from our very own Kelsey Davis, Associate at ICO Commercial. Kelsey used her creative talent to design and arrange all the flowers for the event, and they were absolutely stunning. We love seeing our team use their gifts to give back, especially for an organization like Houston Haven, which provides low-cost housing to out-of-town cancer patients and their families undergoing treatment at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. It was an unforgettable day for a cause that means so much to ICO Commercial.
1. What's your favorite movie you can quote start to finish?
"Top Gun."
2. What's the best concert you've ever been to?
"Eagles at the Sphere in Vegas."
3. What's one trend you're watching closely in today's market? Why?
"Interest rates. High interest rates make deals difficult to pencil out. For Single Family developments and Master Planned Communities, it affects the deal in two ways: 1) The cost of funds for the developer is higher, making developed lots potentially more expensive, and 2) It makes homes built by builders more expensive and the mortgage associated with the purchase of the home more costly, thus affecting affordability to prospective buyers."
4. Summary of your business and who an ideal client/prospect might be?
"I work in all aspects of commercial real estate but mostly specializing in land for various developments. As a developer, I understand what is necessary to successfully develop a property and can usually perform high-level due diligence before presenting a property to a potential client. When representing potential sellers, I look to resolve any and all objections a potential buyer may have before listing the property for sale. I provide answers and solutions to problems to make for a smooth and seamless transaction."
With traditional new builds slowing, developers are leaning hard into adaptive reuse, converting existing spaces into mixed-use, office condo, and flexible environments. Learn how ICO is leading that shift in the latest ICOnic News.
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