Housing Costs, Density and You

I don't think its an overstatement to say that the One University Place development project has always been on my mind for 6 years. It is the single issue that has occupied a majority of time in my 3 terms on city council. 

This past week council voted to refer to the Zoning Commission the developer's latest request to increase the

number of residential units and parking spaces allowed for the project. The size of the buildings remains the same however so that there will be smaller units created. This has understandably raised concern among our citizens some of whom have voiced that at our meeting, others who have contacted me directly. I wrote last month about some of my thoughts regarding this latest proposal.

It is impossible to also consider our project without looking at housing costs. On January 19th City Council held an affordable housing work session. I asked about "workforce housing" options at that meeting. Median household income in U-Heights has declined from $67,430 in 2000 to $59,018 in 2012, similar declines are found throughout Johnson County. Our median household income is the highest in the county. The county-wide median in 2012 was $53,993. I always benchmark these against what a first year teacher with a BA degree makes in the Iowa City Community School District. In 2014-15 that is $39,200.

While median income was dropping median household value was increasing from $216,100 to $246,800 in the same time period. By definition a person is considered "cost burdened" if they pay more than 30% of their income in housing costs. After adjusting for inflation housing costs in U-Heights have increased 14.2% from 2000 to 2012. At the same time, again adjusted for inflation, incomes have decreased 12.5%. More home owners are now considered cost burdened than in 2000. So the most important figures to me are these: 

• 20% of U-H home owners pay more than 30% of their income in housing in 2012
  Up from 16% in 2000
• 50% of U-H renters pay more than 30% of their income in housing in 2012
  Up from 29.3% in 2000

This and much more useful information can be found at the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County's website. This data above came from their Update to the 2007 Affordable Housing Market Analysis for the Iowa City Urbanized Area (published September 2014).

Given these concerns about affordable housing, I proposed at at our work session and later in a private meeting with the developer that if the City should consider an increase in the number of proposed residential units only IF 5% (6 units) were specifically marked for workforce housing.

I also continue to read and hear national stories that become filtered through my "local lens" to consider their impact here in U-Heights. Here are three that I've run across this week, that I found interesting:

Small Homes Make Better Cities
This article looks at several projects around the country (I'd already heard of the "apodments" but the others were new to me.) At 350 sq. ft. these units are half the size of the smaller units proposed for the front building. 

Walking: The Secret Ingredient for Health, Wealth, and More Exciting Neighborhoods
It's no secret one reason I've pushed for a mixed use development with commercial property is we need somewhere for people to walk to!

With Porches And Parks, A Texas Community Aims For Urban Utopia
Our older portions of town already have this and we have continued to build community among our citizens, our location near the UIHC will always make us attractive, but we do need continue to think about what else can we do to enhance our community. See also the next day's follow up regarding racial tensions in this community.

So those are a few more of my thoughts, I'm always interested in hearing other people's feedback.