HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-19 Public Comment - J. DiMarco-3 - Affordable Housing Action PlanFrom:jerrydimarco@mail.com
To:Agenda
Subject:comments on Affordable Housing Action Plan - 3 of 3
Date:Thursday, November 14, 2019 2:08:30 PM
There needs to be much more emphasis on home ownership, not just rentals, for those in lower
AMI categories. Mobile homes and modular and prefab housing can significantly lower thecosts of housing so that households below 80% AMI can have their own homes. Ideally there
would be transition zones around mobile home parks, occupied by prefab or modular homes,or apartment buildings, to create an affordable neighborhood and help preserve affordability.
Since multiunit buildings raise the value of adjacent lands, they can make homes on thoseadjacent lands less affordable. So mixed unit developments appear to work against affordable
housing. Maybe it's better to have development projects with the same type of housing (e.g.single family home), with a range of values.
There appeared to be no mention of neighborhood associations and covenants. These types oforganizations and regulations exist to preserve or enhance property values, which means they
work against affordable and inclusive housing. There should be limits on what they candictate, and especially a restriction on rules opposing affordable housing. Should we also
consider not allowing new neighborhood associations and covenants where they are notcurrently?
Tax Increment Financing does not appear to be an efficient way to achieve permanentlyaffordable housing since it depends on appreciation of property values in the district to provide
money for affordable housing in the district. Can you maintain affordable housing in adistrict with rising property values, and will property values rise less because of the affordable
housing?
Will employer-based solutions drive employers out of town or away? If we choose to use this
approach, how do we ensure employees maintain their independence, and don't becomebeholden to the employer? How do we ensure the housing stays affordable?
MSU must be a part of the plan. They should be a part of the supply solution by increasingcampus housing until there is no dormitory waiting list.
Federal housing assistance programs are numerous, but have not kept up over the years. Theyare not supported by both parties, and as a result have fallen behind, and may not be reliable
long term. Since they are mostly beyond our control, and the housing they create does notremain affordable, we may not want to depend on them too heavily. Dealing with multiple
funding sources actually turns out to be counterproductive and an administrative headache.
Regarding permanent affordable housing, given that citizens in this circumstance have health
problems that will not be solved by getting them into housing, will their health problems beaddressed as well?
All problems have an education component. In this case there is a need to counselhomebuyers to spend their money wisely. We the consumer are part of the problem. New
residents need to be made aware of the rapid rise in real estate prices here, and understand thatif they’re willing to pay $350,000 for a home, there are plenty of sellers who are willing to
charge that. An online buy vs rent calculator, such as https://www.calculator.net/rent-vs-buy-calculator.html can be very helpful to folks looking for housing. We need to get a message
out that counters the feverish pitch being promoted by the real estate community. We must tipthe scale back toward affordability and keep it there.
Thank you for your consideration of these issues.
Jerry DiMarco
Bozeman