Rethinking Housing Supply: Manufactured, Modular, Converted, and Rebuilt
This CCRE conversation will explore how factory-built housing, adaptive reuse, and other emerging approaches could help expand California’s housing supply amid persistent cost, labor, financing, and approval challenges.
TIME & LOCATION
Jun 11, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Virtual
ABOUT THE EVENT
As California searches for practical ways to expand housing supply, the conversation is moving beyond traditional development models. Factory-built and manufactured housing, 3D printing, commercial-to-residential conversion, and townhomes and condominiums, are all drawing increased attention. At the same time, major barriers remain — including construction costs, labor availability, supply chain pressures, local approvals, financing gaps, and insurance-related risk.
Join the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) on Thursday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. for a virtual conversation on which housing innovations are gaining real traction and what it will take to turn new models into meaningful production. This panel will explore what is happening now in California, what lessons are emerging, and where policymakers, practitioners, and builders may be able to unlock new supply in the years ahead.
Moderator:
Housing Reporter
CalMatters
Ben Christopher has profiled the people who fell through the cracks of California’s rickety COVID rent relief program, demystified the perennial debate between state regulators and local governments opposed to new housing, covered innovative ideas from cities on how to tackle their local housing shortages and explained how complicated legislative proposals about zoning, bonds and corporate ownership of single-family homes affect everyday Californians. His favorite reporting assignment so far: Touring the various two- and three-story structures that have sprouted up across San Diego under the regulatory guise of “accessory dwelling units” thanks to that city’s one-of-a-kind program. Prior to taking over the housing beat in the spring of 2023, Christopher wrote about elections and politics for CalMatters, covering four election cycles, including the 2021 gubernatorial recall campaign.
Panelists:
Associate Research Director of Land Use and Supply
UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation
Dr. Stephanie Hawke is the associate research director of land use and supply at the Terner Center. Her work focuses on the intersection of housing policy and racial and economic equity across levels of governance. Prior to joining the Terner Center, Dr. Hawke was an economist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she worked on housing finance models for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program. She has also held research roles in tech, academia, and local government, bringing a cross-sector lens to housing policy questions. Dr. Hawke’s past work includes mixed-methods studies of manufactured housing policy, landlord self-selection, and place-based barriers to homeownership. She holds a Ph.D. in public affairs and policy from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.
Founder + Principal
Omgivning Architecture
Karin Liljegren, FAIA, has dedicated over 25 years to revitalizing cities through adaptive reuse. Her firm has touched more than 700 buildings, transforming underutilized structures into multifamily housing, hotels, restaurants, event venues, and workspaces. These projects range from small local cafes to two-million-square-foot historic landmarks. As a state and national thought leader, Liljegren combines deep hands-on experience with a practical yet visionary approach to shaping planning policies and driving reforms in building and fire codes. Liljegren is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and active with the AIA Los Angeles Chapter. Through the Urban Land Institute, she serves on the National Redevelopment and Reuse Council and the Local Innovation and Housing Councils.
President
California Manufactured Housing Institute
Jess Maxcy began his career in the manufactured housing industry in California in 1962. His extensive background ranges from production worker to division vice president to president/CEO of the California Manufactured Housing Institute. Maxcy has been instrumental in the development and promotion of manufactured housing. Maxcy joined Redman Industries, a leading manufacturer of manufactured homes, in 1962. He has worked for Divco-Wayne Industries (Terra Cruiser in Downey) and Fleetwood Homes. He has managed manufactured housing factories in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Ohio.
CFO
US-Offsite
Alex Shea has nearly two decades of finance experience spanning investment banking, portfolio management ($10B+), derivatives trading, and FP&A. Prior to joining US-Offsite, he managed a real estate private credit fund enabling sponsors to execute on their development pro-formas. He currently oversees all financial and non-production-related decisions at US-Offsite. When not in the factory, Shea enjoys spending time with his family (2 daughters with 1 more on the way!), playing the guitar, skiing at nearby Mt. Shasta, and rooting for the New York Yankees. He is a CFA Charterholder and received his B.S. in finance from the NYU Stern School of Business.