re: NAHB 10-Point Plan to Tame Shelter Inflation, Ease the Housing Affordability Crisis

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There are ways to do this that wouldn't create unchecked higher density and unfettered growth. Planned Unit Developments would be one route that could implement higher density and with design requirements and other controls to maintain community standards.

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This was done about 6 years ago in our area. It’s a planned neighborhood that includes a small number of apartments, townhomes, entry level homes and high end, larger homes. It also has a senior citizens home and rec center.

I was hugely against this development when I heard about it and couldn’t see how such a development would blend with this community where surrounding neighborhoods’ homes started at $600k. I’m very happy to say that it hasn’t been an issue at all. It was billed and proven to be a beginning to end community with people just starting out through retirement.

The lower priced units are primarily filled with young adults and single parents who were recently divorced. The townhomes are primarily first time home owners. I do have to wonder if the reason it’s worked is because even the entry level apartments are relatively expensive and definitely not targeted to low income or section 8.