Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam on Wednesday is hosting a meeting of mayors, municipal officials, lawmakers and housing experts from Connecticut and other states to share best practices in housing development and strengthen cross-border collaboration.
“The housing crisis does not stop at city borders or state lines, and solving it requires a level of collaboration that matches the scale of the challenge,” Arulampalam said. “I am proud to welcome leaders from across the country to Hartford to turn bold policy ideas into the practical, everyday work of building more homes for our residents.”
Arulampalam’s office organized the event in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and LAZ Parking. The national parking operator is hosting the all-day event in its offices at the Gold Building office tower in downtown Hartford.
Alex Horowitz, housing director of the Pew Charitable Trusts will help frame the issue. The event will include interactive talks with Connecticut House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, Oklahoma Senate Minority Leader Julie Kirt and Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
A significant portion of the day is dedicated to creative innovation and adaptive reuse, featuring insights from LAZ Parking CEO Alan Lazowski and Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, according to the Hartford mayor’s office.
The afternoon sessions include a featured conversation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who serves as the chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Homelessness Task Force, regarding the national challenges of housing and homelessness. Mayor Arulampalam will moderate discussions on homeownership and the reduction of administrative barriers, such as zoning and permitting reform, alongside local experts and New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert.
The conference will conclude with a guided tour of a project converting a former downtown office building along Pratt Street into dormitory style housing for more than 200 University of Connecticut students.
“We are focused on moving ideas into action,” Arulampalam said. “This workshop is a critical space for leaders to collaborate on practical solutions—from adaptive reuse to permitting reform—that deliver real results for our residents and support the growth of our communities.”
The event was closed to the press, except for a limited window during the lunch break.
