An affordable housing suggestion
Planners in expensive Westchester County, N.Y., have a thought about moderately priced homes that could work in most suburbs: Build them on top of some of the oodles of unnecessarily large office parking lots.
The New York Times reports today:
The recommendations came in response to a severe shortage of moderate-income housing in Westchester. Demand is expected to reach 19,083 units by 2015, yet between 2000 and 2005 only 970 units had been built, according to Deborah DeLong, the county’s housing director.Because the roads and utilities in existing office parks are already in place, the study asserts, further development of those properties would not be as costly for developers.
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Comments
Very interesting idea, esp from a SMART growth perspective. I work in Hunt Valley, and there are plenty of underused surface parking lots up here. I see the businesses generally against it though. I can't think of any where in the City where this could work.
Posted by: Larry | May 12, 2008 11:17 AM
Another Suggestion. Baltimore City has 30,000 vacant homes. The Strate of MD is giving away $75M to landlords of cash flow postive section 8 landlords. Take that money, renovate 8000 homes give them away for free as long as the people can pay the taxes. Two birds with one stone.
Posted by: Dunn | May 12, 2008 1:57 PM
Another Suggestion. Baltimore City has 30,000 vacant homes. The State of MD is giving away $75M to landlords of cash flow postive section 8 houses. Take that money, renovate 8000 homes give them away for free as long as the people can pay the taxes. Two birds with one stone.
My other solution to affordable housing is to create a database for section 8 landlords, nothing exists, make it competitive. It is a lot cheaper than susidizing the cash flow postive landlords.
Posted by: Dunn | May 12, 2008 2:08 PM