The Drum Major Institute's Marketplace of Ideas event this morning featured Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and his reforms to turn vacant buildings into affordable housing. Menino, who is now serving his fourth mayoral term, has reformed Boston's housing market in some pretty amazing ways. During the past decade, abandoned residential properties declined 77% as abandoned buildings were turned into viable housing.

The panel discussion featured Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Pratt Community Development Center Director Brad Lander, and Executive Director of the Parodneck Foundation Carlton Collier. DMI Executive Director Andrea Batista Schlesinger moderated the panel.

As anyone knows who has looked at housing prices recently, affordable housing is a really important issue in New York right now. DMI's "Saving the Middle Class" survey found that "affordable rent" was at the top of the list of concerns of the current and aspiring middle class in New York. The panel addressed many of the reforms and policies that can help to make housing in New York affordable in the future.

Did you miss the event? Check out our liveblog to read all about it!

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