Most people sense that something is wrong with how we build our communities. Housing feels out of reach, downtowns struggle to thrive, and development often seems risky, disconnected, and reserved for only the biggest players… But it wasn't always this way.
Join us for an engaging introduction to incremental development—the traditional pattern that created America's most beloved neighborhoods through small, locally driven projects built one step at a time.
North Louisiana is ready for this conversation. In Homer, a feasibility study included redevelopment planning for 15+ vacant buildings in the downtown core—clear proof of untapped potential, but also a clear signal that data alone isn't enough. Communities across the region need the practical, hands-on training to turn that opportunity into action. Ruston itself is already moving: the Rock Island Greenway corridor and a Main Street-style overlay district point to a community actively rethinking how it grows. Meanwhile, West Monroe's vacant building ordinance has brought 30 buildings back into productive use, proving what's possible when policy and local capacity align.
Whether you're interested in becoming a small-scale developer, restoring a building in your own downtown, or are a local leader looking to encourage better growth in your community, this free public lecture will explore how our development systems changed after World War II and what practical alternatives exist today. You'll discover how incremental development can lower risk, rebuild local ownership, and create more adaptable, resilient communities—one small project at a time.
Details
This event is free and open to the public. After the presentation concludes, we'll host a lively conversation between IncDev faculty and local developers, planners, and leaders working to build capacity and wealth across the North Louisiana region.
Stay tuned for information about an in-depth workshop in October that will build upon the concepts shared in this lecture.
About the Presenter
Tiffany Elder is a Durham-based licensed general contractor, Realtor, and real estate investor/developer. She is Owner of Paradigm Construction (design-build construction firm), and Paradigm Properties (real estate brokerage firm). Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Tiffany launched her professional career as a software engineer. She moved to North Carolina to acquire a Master of Business Administration, with a focus in Sustainable Enterprise, from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and fell in love with the Triangle. Today, Tiffany enjoys renovating historic structures, and building new residential and commercial spaces in the Raleigh-Durham area.
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