Insights  ·  Field Notes  ·  White Papers

Insights from 30+ years of community, housing and economic development.

Riverstone publishes regular analysis on the financing tools, policy shifts, and project structures that shape community and housing development. Written by practitioners, for practitioners — and for the municipalities, employers, and community partners who make this work possible.

Field Note

Affordable and Attainable Housing for Healthcare Workers

Hospitals and health systems are increasingly stepping into the role of housing developer — building, financing, or partnering on affordable units for the nurses, technicians, and clinicians their communities depend on. The reasons go well beyond goodwill.

Workforce Housing · 8 min
White Paper No. 2

The 9% vs. 4% Decision

Every LIHTC deal starts with the same question: compete for 9% credits or pair 4% credits with tax-exempt bonds? The answer shapes everything that follows — timeline, capital stack, deal size, and risk. A practitioner's framework for choosing the right path.

LIHTC Financing · 10 min
White Paper No. 4

Stacking Historic Tax Credits with LIHTC

A 1911 YMCA in Kansas City. A 1917 school in Red Oak, Iowa. On paper, both were liabilities. Twin the federal Historic Tax Credit with LIHTC and the right state layers, and the math changes. How the stack works — and what it takes to close, with Y Lofts and 1917 Lofts as case studies.

Financing Mechanics · 14 min
White Paper No. 5

Stacking LIHTC with Opportunity Zones

LIHTC and Opportunity Zones were designed for different purposes. But when they're layered on the same project — especially after the OBBBA's 2025 enhancements — the combined tax benefit is unlike anything else in the affordable housing toolkit. Deal structures, practical barriers, and illustrative capital stacks.

OZ + LIHTC Stacking · 18 pages
White Paper No. 1

Opportunity Zones & the Future of Rural Housing in America

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a "super-tier" of OZ incentives for rural communities — a 30% basis step-up, a 50% substantial improvement threshold, and a dedicated QROF fund structure. What these changes mean for rural housing, and why the window to act is now.

OZ Policy & Rural Finance · 16 min
Field Note

Observations and lessons from the Timberview Project

Our Team led development and construction management of Timberview, a 128-unit workforce housing community in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, delivered for the Choctaw Nation to house the workforce behind Choctaw Landing Resort and Casino.

Workforce Housing & Tribal Nations · 8 min