Not sure if you read last month's commentary about the importance of landscape architects in the development of commercial properties. Well, much the same can be said about residential development. Housing is a huge segment of the profession. In fact, 55% of you told LASN that you are active in the custom residential marketplace and 46% have worked on Multi-Family Developments over the past two years.
Like the commercial market, now is the time to work with the housing industry and in doing so strengthen the role of Landscape Architects in responsible housing development. With material shortages, labor shortages, high interest rates, demand that is driving the price of ownership out of reach, it's understandable that Builder Confidence declined in every month of 2022. Yet groups like the American Planning Association are having symposiums on avoiding the housing shortage, with particular interest in low-income housing (meaning somehow with all the above it needs to be cheap, too). Even the ASLA is piling it on, supporting more extreme climate-based restrictions in accordance with a Paris agreement that unfairly targets the US.

 
And . . . At a time when we should all be working together, I'm hearing more and more from landscape architects who are fighting battles against those who want to weaken your licensure. Montana, Virginia, South Carolina, Engineers, and Architects are just a few groups and places where licensure is under attack. In Utah, a bill dissolving the board hit the docket.
Unfortunately, even though those who responded to the Call on LandscapeArchitect.com helped generate enough support to pause the action (to the point we were asked to tell you Thanks, but please stop. Your voices were heard ), the bill ultimately passed and the Utah Board of licensure will be coming under review on or before September 30th of this year.
It's time to build allies within the housing industry and strengthen the position of the profession in all arenas. However, all I see from ASLA these days is climate, climate, climate, which alienates the building industry, half the US population and is one of the reasons less than half the Landscape Architects are members. Sustainability and regenerative are words the original green industry (you) invented and have almost perfected. And while there is a place for dealing with political and social issues, ASLA should be most vocal about supporting the building industry, strengthening licensure, and touting the great accomplishments you bring to the table.
If you want to help the climate, get the 85% of the world who are growing their carbon output to stop. (see World Carbon Output If you want to strengthen the profession, tout the work you've done, show how it benefits the building industry and ultimately prove how important you are to the team. Because it is a team, and while it's ok to be a little free spirited, you still need to play as a team.

Take the Landscape Architect Priorities Survey here!