Event Recap
On February 6th, we at Build It Green officially launched the Alameda County Small Developer Incubator, a new initiative designed to support small-scale developers in reshaping California’s housing landscape. More than just a single event, the Incubator is a long-term program that will offer ongoing learning, networking, and collaboration opportunities for developers and builders, city officials, financiers, suppliers, construction innovators, and community advocates.
The kickoff event featured an engaging discussion on how small-scale development can be a community-driven approach that prioritizes local ownership, neighborhood-scale projects, and housing choices that reflect real demand. The evening’s conversation was led by Alli Thurmond Quinlan, Acting Director of the Incremental Development Alliance (IncDev), who explored how small-scale development can fill housing gaps, restore the flexibility of older neighborhood patterns, and create new opportunities for local investment.
“We started this work because we saw a need to train others to do what we do—to empower people to shape their own communities from the ground up,” Quinlan shared.
Sponsored by the San Francisco Foundation and Drake’s Dealership, with additional support from StopWaste and the Place Initiative, the event brought together community advocates, housing professionals, and local changemakers eager to rethink how development happens. It also marked the beginning of a broader effort to rebuild California’s capacity for small-scale development—a key strategy for tackling the state’s housing crisis.
Unlike large-scale development, which often prioritizes high-volume construction with little regard for local context, small developers focus on projects that restore underutilized spaces, introduce housing variety, and create more livable communities. Quinlan emphasized that this work requires patience and a deep understanding of place:
“You have to live and work in one place for decades to make a real impact.”
She compared small-scale development to farming, explaining, “A developer is like a farmer—cultivating a place, nurturing its potential, and ensuring it thrives over time.”
Across our state and the nation, decades of development has resulted in neighborhoods made up primarily of single-family homes or high-rise buildings. Little space has been left for the types of small, adaptable buildings that in previous generations defined cities and towns.
One attendee raised a question about why large suburban homes seem to dominate the housing market. This led to a rich conversation between Quinlan and the audience regarding the fact that legal, financial, and other elements of our home building system lead to the homes being constructed that don’t necessarily meet the demand of the market. The conversation also put a spotlight on an opportunity we have in California. Due to a plethora of new state laws and local policies, conditions are more favorable for building small-scale housing than they have been in many, many years.
Another major focus of the conversation was how local governments often stand in the way of small-scale development, even when demand exists and policies are favorable.
One attendee asked how cities can better support small developers instead of creating barriers. Quinlan responded: “We need to educate city staff on why small-scale development is beneficial. Many planners are trained to regulate, not to facilitate. We also need elected officials who understand these issues—our city was able to change because we got four urbanists elected to city council.”.
Access to capital remains one of the largest obstacles for small developers. A participant asked how to overcome the fact that banks tend to favor large-scale projects. Quinlan acknowledged this challenge and highlighted the need for local lending institutions to recognize the value of small-scale projects:
“This is a huge issue. We need to engage local banks and credit unions. We also need more small developers proving that these projects work, which will create a track record that lenders trust.”
By building smaller, more adaptable projects that match the needs of existing neighborhoods, small developers can create housing without relying on massive financial backing, but policy shifts and financial tools are still needed to make these projects more accessible.
The discussion reinforced the urgent need for rethinking how neighborhoods evolve and who gets to shape that process. Quinlan highlighted how small-scale development presents a viable alternative to the large-scale, profit-driven projects that dominate many housing markets, allowing for growth that is flexible, locally rooted, and aligned with real community needs. However, for small developers to succeed, cities must align policies, address financing gaps, and embrace a broader vision of what housing can look like.
As the conversation came to a close, one message stood out: change happens when people invest in the places they call home. Whether supporting local development efforts, or taking on small projects themselves, attendees left with a clearer understanding of the role they can play in shaping more diverse and livable communities.
This event was just the beginning. The Alameda County Small Developer Incubator will continue to host workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities to support emerging developers and changemakers who want to build housing that aligns with community values.
The next opportunity to get involved is the Alameda County Small-Scale Development Workshop on March 7th, a full-day, hands-on training covering:
Whether you’re an aspiring developer, community advocate, or policymaker, this workshop will provide the practical tools and connections needed to turn ideas into action. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
For more information about the Alameda County Small Developer Incubator and upcoming events, please reach out to our programs team at [email protected].
Let’s build the future of housing—together.
Alex Coba
Communication Associate
As a proud California native from Stockton, Alex brings a wealth of experience and a versatile skill set. He has a solid communication background with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from California State University, Chico. Alex is adept at strategic communications and media relations, with experience gathering and sharing stories from his local communities that uplift the unique spirit and values of those places. He is excited to join Build It Green, where he can apply his talents to further BIG’s mission to help communities across California thrive