Shelter
Here’s the goal: That 75 percent of the people who work in Missoula live here, too. This from the mayor’s affordable housing resolution rolled out Wednesday to a Missoula City Council committee.(Coming soon — the percent of Missoula’s workforce who currently live in Missoula.) The discussion will continue at an upcoming committee meeting, and council eventually will vote on the resolution. It tells city staff to figure out how to make affordable housing happen. Here’s the mayor’s initiative.
– Ward 1 Councilman Jason Wiener said transportation costs need to factor into affordability.
– Ward 6 Councilman Ed Childers said with some 39 percent of Missoulians over 125 percent median income, that means 39 percent of folks helping 61 percent with housing. “It’s just one of those things that’s a little hard to completely wrap one’s head around.”
– Ward 2 Councilman John Hendrickson wanted to know what kind of ordinances might get passed, and OPG director Roger Millar, who presented the resolution in the mayor’s absence, said tool possibilities are posted on MOR’s Web site.
– Ward 3 Councilwoman Stacy Rye said she wants the city to support the North Missoula Community Development Corp. because it offers people home ownership.
– Ward 4 Councilman Jon Wilkins said half of the people in Missoula rent and the vacancy rate is around 1 percent right now. He wants affordable rentals, too: “I think a lot of people need to go that way.”
– Keila Szpaller
October 16th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Since public comment is yet to be taken on the issue, may I add to the list?
- Local Builders often target “starter home” buyers by keeping the price of homeownership down. They do this without affordable units bieng exacted by the City.
- Local Builders and Developers work with the Missoula Housing Authority to provide affordable units with or without subsidies.
- Local Builders are also moving towards Green Building to conserve energy and natural resources. This also contributes to keeping month to month costs down for the homeowner.
- The Community Housing Policies will often contridict other city policies regarding fee increases and exactions (parkland dedication). I think Ed mentioned this a bit.
- Everyone should get out an support the City’s efforts to provide housing to those who need it.