9. HRSR 02-06-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REQUEST FOR ACTION TO ITEM NUMBER Housin and Redevelo ment Authori 9. AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY February 6, 2012 Clay Wilfahrt, Assistant Director of Economic Develo ment ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Authorize staff to obtain quotes for a housing study Annie Deckert, Director of Economic Develo ment REVIEWED BY ACTION REQUESTED Authorize staff to obtain quotes for a housing study. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Staff has conducted several housing studies in the past, with the most recent study being conducted in 2003. In the Vision and Goals approved by the City Council, a goal for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority is to "monitor the City's housing market, inventory and condition to identify needs." A housing study will assist in achieving this goal. The purposes of the housing studies have been to determine the availability of different segments of housing in Elk River and to plan for the future of the housing market in Elk River. By conducting a study in 2012, staff will be able to better plan for future housing growth and address any current needs we may have. The anticipated outcome of the 2012 study is the development of a number of actionable strategies the City can employ to promote a balanced housing stock for our residents. The 2003 study outlined a dozen goals covering rehabilitation, multi-family housing, single-family housing, and other housing. Following the study, staff created a work plan for housing initiatives that included educational presentations to the public, and an informal survey of businesses in the area to further study the housing climate. The study is also made available on the city's website, provided to area developers and discussed with development prospects. The 2003 informal survey of businesses uncovered that employers saw a need fox more affordable homes in Elk River. Staff then incorporated affordable and first-time home buying strategies into the public educational presentations. Additionally, staff partnered with local non-profits (Central MN Housing Partnership, Tri-CAP, etc.) to promote their affordable housing programs through our housing finance tool-kit brochure and website. The housing market has changed drastically since 2003. A quick glance at building permit figures between 2000 and 2010 illustrates this. In 2000 there were 172 building permits issued for single family homes. This number rose to 300 by 2004 and dropped to 11 in 2010. Multi-family dwellings experienced a similar incline from 2000 to 2004 increasing from 86 permits issued to 235 permits issued. In 2010, there were none issued for multi-family dwellings. P®^EAE® ®r N:\Depaztments\Community Development\Economic llevclopment\1-lousing\Housing Studies\2012 Study\Housing ~~~~~~ Study Request Eor Auth2012