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STRATEGIES TO STRATEGIES TO REDUCE COSTS .
<br /> REDUCE COSTS : A CLOSER LOOK
<br /> �' ASSESS HOUSING NEEDS �.��
<br /> (p EVALUATE SITE CONDITIONS
<br /> 446Select a site that is the appropriate size to accommodate anticipated housing 4!) Select a site that is reasonably priced and suitable for residential development
<br /> needs and housing types.
<br /> A quality site at a reasonable price is the foundation for building a neighborhood with affordable starter homes. Start
<br /> checking recent land sales to get an idea of the average land price in your area. In determining a reasonable price,it is critic
<br /> The first step in developing a new neighborhood is to obtain a recent market study that documents the economic conditions and
<br /> ; consider existing site conditions for each of the potential sites. "Final" land costs will be affected by site conditions such as F
<br /> housing demand in your community and surrounding area. A recent market study will provide detailed and accurate information
<br /> about the number and type of housing units that are needed. If a recent market study is not available and preparing one is not soils or the presence of hazardous materials. If site conditions are poor, savings from a low purchase price will quickly
<br /> eclipsed by the costs associated with site preparation. Be sure to review all site conditions before deciding that the land pric
<br /> feasible, another option is to conduct a housing needs assessment. This is a more informal way to assess housing needs with
<br /> indeed "reasonable."
<br /> information gathered through interviews with local employers, city officials, housing advocates, and landlords. Whatever the =),
<br /> method used, be sure to include newly-approved projects both in the town and county. ! i, '`
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<br /> Having an accurate picture of the town's housing needs will assist you when reviewing site options to determine if a particular site ,+%c z'+"- °`ter ,/
<br /> is the appropriate size to accommodate the anticipated housing needs, or if a larger site or multiple sites will be required. For "" / /'
<br /> some towns, infill housingmaybe theappropriate course of - 4.; --- ' ' I °'s4WAGE
<br /> development, not only to increase the affordable housing supply, �, ---f.:',","!
<br /> but also as a strategyfor redevelopment. The strategies outlined ',��__ `a
<br /> in thisguide also apply to infill development. T=1*-,'. ,: .f'' /
<br /> PP Y P ..����
<br /> I �_ ►fr,��:Tj 4� If the housing market study indicates a need for both single and �r
<br /> C•:� r� . HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
<br /> f es► \�� ,r '. multi-family housing, consider opportunities to incorporate both
<br /> types in the new neighborhood. In addition to reducing costs, A previous use of the site may have left behind potentially hazardous materials, such as buried storage tanks,which can affect
<br /> single-family
<br /> safety of residents and dramatically increase the cost of site preparation. Conducting a title search to determine previous use
<br /> multi-family housing housing combining multiple housing types in a neighborhood can help
<br /> - create a stable neighborhood by allowing residents to continue to the site and following industry standards for environmental site assessment can help to uncover any hidden issues. Refer to
<br /> live in the same neighborhood as their needs change. Careful ,-: Annual Book of ASTM Standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials for more information.
<br /> attention to the buildings'scale and placement can allow several
<br /> different housing types to exist comfortably side by side,just as TOPOGRAPHY
<br /> -`: - Verify the site's topographical conditions to determine that the site is not within a floodplain and does not have extrl
<br /> they do in many older neighborhoods. =n,
<br /> ;Y flip.,... topographical conditions, such as very steep slopes or very flat topography with poor drainage. Substantial re-grading of the
<br /> As an example, this approach is being used in a new neighborhood in Isle, Minnesota that includes a mix of sixteen single- to prepare it for building and to provide appropriate drainage may significantly increase costs.
<br /> family homes, four quad homes, eight apartments, and a senior apartment building. Refer to page 73 for a project profile on this ,,
<br /> -- SOIL AND WATER CONDITIONS
<br /> new neighborhood in Isle. u '4•4` ^' — — -- - -
<br /> Avoid areas with features that will require excessive site preparation costs, such as high water tables and poor soils. These c
<br /> ,n- " can turn an otherwise affordable project into one that is not cost effective. A site that has soil containing silts and clays that
<br /> ' L- unsuitable for building construction, for example, may require extensive excavation and soil remediation to ready the area
<br /> ' streets and homes.
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<br /> _- * � �; �=' `-;`- —`• Some problematic site conditions can be addressed witF
<br /> .w _ = _:: = rejecting the site for development. For example, on sites
<br /> -. *-4--„ V,----4, higher water tables it may be possible to build slab-on-grad
<br /> _` ;,- jh1K .•a, ; 'a even split-level houses without encountering additional cc
<br /> ; q`:4,, t• tisk .i However, such site conditions can limit options and incrf
<br /> • , : s: �x, ; ,', costs, so it is best to be aware of any limitations as earls
<br /> f, _ %' �' '• " possible to determine if they are acceptable. Discuss poter
<br /> y f f6 •P d y`
<br /> ` site problems with a city engineer or builder.
<br /> -,- j: -. is ;�
<br /> J Y.: �;lE fir.... �, 1 .\ - 1,• �t VIP / 1 1.,, '
<br /> .' +J ,\r-- ��1 Ct '- ,I f.f,i,' , SITE VISIT
<br /> -• ',',At" r r x-i4.)`' ,>.. ', •--• • ' r 1 1 GMHF staff and community representatives visit a potential sit
<br /> c :- . i : , ! �;, 'r: ,� '' .'i r for a new neighborhood to review site conditions.
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