I’ll be honest—housing in Carmel has become one of those topics where everyone has an opinion, and most of those opinions don’t exactly align. I see it play out constantly in my work.

Just last month, we had a client who’s been a teacher in Carmel for fifteen years tell us she’s given up on finding something she can afford here. The week before that, we sat with a couple in their late 70s who desperately want to downsize from their family home but can’t find a condo or smaller home that works. And we’ve lost count of how many conversations we’ve had with longtime homeowners who are genuinely worried about what’s happening to their neighborhoods—the traffic, the density, the character they fell in love with changing faster than they can process. Plus let’s talk about our kids that do want to live here and what they actually can afford!

Here’s the thing: everyone’s concerns are valid. That’s what makes this so hard.

On March 5th, there’s a Housing Challenges Roundtable happening that’s taking a different approach to this conversation. AllSides—a national company that specializes in bridging political divides—is partnering with Current Publishing and Carmel-based Project Civility to host these discussions. City Council member Jeff Worrell, who founded Project Civility, is helping lead the effort. The whole point is to get people with different perspectives actually talking to each other, not past each other.

You’ll register online, answer a few demographic questions, then join a virtual discussion with 4-6 other Carmel residents. Here’s what I appreciate about the format: they’re intentionally grouping people who likely disagree. Someone renting an apartment with a 20-year homeowner. Someone worried about losing community character with someone who can’t find housing here at all.

Jeff Worrell said something that resonated with me: “We’re hoping to get a real pulse from the community on how they feel about these things. We want you to have the opportunity to speak your mind, voice your opinion.”

And crucially—this isn’t just a feel-good conversation. The insights from these roundtables will actually guide policy decisions by elected leaders. Your perspective matters, whether you’re concerned about older adults aging in place, young graduates being priced out, service workers commuting from counties away, or the very real impacts of increased density and traffic.

From where I sit, with one foot in property valuation (thanks to my appraiser background) and the other in helping people find homes they love, I see all sides of this. I understand why longtime residents are protective of what they’ve built. I also see the very real pain of people who want to be part of this community but can’t make it work financially. Both things can be true at the same time.

What I know for sure is that we need more than echo chambers and Facebook comment sections to solve this. We need actual conversation between people who see things differently. That’s uncomfortable, but it’s also how we move forward.

The roundtable is virtual, structured, and guided—so it’s not just a free-for-all argument. You watch a brief welcome video, get matched with your small group, follow a conversation guide, and afterward you’ll receive a summary of insights from all the conversations happening across Carmel.

If you care about Carmel’s future—and I know so many of you do—consider joining one of these sessions. AllSides, Current Publishing, and Project Civility have created something that feels genuinely different from the usual community conversations. Register at https://www.allsides.com/carmel-roundtable-affordable-housing#nropv-register. Choose a time that works for you. Show up ready to listen as much as you talk.

We’re not going to solve this in one conversation. But we might start understanding each other better, and that’s not nothing.