Tools for Doing Development Different
Building Small is a big idea with impact. Integrating the best in small scale, incremental development; economic resilience; authentic placemaking; and social responsibility; Building Smallʻs time has come. Open to all built environment entrepreneurs, you gain real world knowledge, valuable insights, inspiration, immersive experiences, and connection to ʻyour tribeʻ like no other. Three ways to engage Building Small include
The Book. It all starts with THIS book. Unlike any other real estate book, 250 pages of real examples, practical lessons and , and how to Build Small.
The Network. THE online platform connecting you to resources, peers and case studies – all to help you succeed at Building Small
The Forums. Join small developers like yourself, as we tour projects, discuss practical solutions and provide valuable insights for Building Small
2. ATTEND THE SMALL DEVELOPER FORUM
” This is the un-conference conference. Period.”
— Atif Qadir, AIA | NEW York, NY
The Small Developer Forums (SDF) span fourteen years and twenty-four locations. Now in our second decade, our programs continue to benefit from a unique combination of real projects and real lessons, combined with group discussions between developers, designers, policy makers, and capital providers. Expand your network of peers to test ideas or ask for assistance. All in a casual, inspired and supportive setting.
USDF#25 now in planning. Reserve November 1-4 if you want to attend. Location drops 5.1.26!
Past Forums
fayetteville, ar #24*
october 2025 sold out!
SAN LUIS OBISPO, ca #23*
May 2025 sold out!
Kansas city, mo #22*
october 2024 sold out!
BEND, OR #21*
May 2024 sold out!
Savannah, GA #20*
November 2023 sold out!
Philadelphia, PA #19
June 2023 sold out!
Nashville, TN #18
Nov 2022 sold out!
San Antonio, TX #17
May 2022
Healdsburg, CA #16
NOV 2021
3. EXPLORE THE HUB FOR BUILDING SMALL
“Bringing together real estate entrepreneurs to grow Building Small as a ʻmainstreet to mainstreamʻ solution”
The HUB for Building Small is an online, bespoke community of other built environment entrepreneurs and supporters who believe in Building Small. Different membership levels provide varied access. Some of the features that make this tool unique in the world of Small Scale development include:
- Member Search – search for peers who live in your area, have similar experience or are building similar types of projects
- Case Studies – Project stories, pictures and examples from prior Forums, and Jim’s travels seeking out the best in Building Small
- Live Events – Sit in on live emerging developer coaching sessions as our Small PROs provide advice during our Small LAB. Starting summer 2026, each month will explore a specific aspect of Building Small with select readings, live Small PRO conversations and relevant video highlights from Small Developer Forum panels or case studies.
- The Forum Files – Over 40 hours of the best presentations, case studies and panels from the Small Developer Forums. High quality recordings all on demand.
Go ahead. Explore The HUB!
4. BUY THE BOOK
“This is one of the most inspiring and practical books I’ve read in a long time. This is a book you read and reread, until it is a bit dog-eared and the corners turned down on the most important pages.”
—Molly McCabe | President Hayden Tanner and Co-Founder | The Lotus Project
Building Small provides the What, Why and How of small scale, incremental development. An inspiring and educational call-to-action, the 250-page toolkit champions fine grained, evolutionary development as a way to support more resilient local economies, foster more authentic places, heal and grow disinvested neighborhoods, and provide a democratic form of community building that spans age, economic means and the rural to urban transect. Graphically accessible and organized to serve as a long term reference – Building Small presents an insightful view at what is possible along with the tools needed to make it happen.
Beyond a great read, a number of design and real estate development programs are using Building Small as their textbook for aspiring Small Developers. These include North Carolina State University, University of Miami, Presidio School of Management and Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services Emerging Developer Program.
In 2011 colleague Howard Kozloff and I questioned why our industry’s energy, focus, and capital was so directed toward ‘Big’ projects. Given that finer grained and entrepreneurial projects was where our interest lie, we asked ‘does anyone else feel the same way?’. So we created the first Small Scale Developers Forum in April 2012. Twelve years and 700 people and 20 different cities later, we now know we aren’t the only ones whose passion lie in Small.
Small Scale Developer Forum, 2024
Kansas City, MO