Bashful Dan

I am a Realtor in Sandpoint, Idaho. A Broker. There are days when I think that the affordable housing problem will drive me crazy and I will finally find a home that’s actually paid for by the state (like mental institution). Do you ever feel that way? Naturally all the candidates are being asked about our ideas on the subject of affordable housing in Sandpoint and the surrounding area. I think the problem is so big that we feel helpless and wonder if there will ever be a path to home ownership for me? Some of us wonder if we can find an affordable rental in Sandpoint. Well, let’s talk about it because we won’t find a single solution that works for everyone but maybe we can find lots of answers that we might fit together to benefit as many as possible.

2. Housing prices have increased dramatically in Sandpoint, while local wages are increasing far more slowly – effectively precluding many residents who work in the local economy from purchasing a home. For the past year city staff and a group of local employers have been searching for housing solutions. What are your ideas for creating affordable housing for our residents who work here? People are working hard on this issue which must be blended with growth. You cannot say that you have a solution to this problem and hang it in a framed mirror. You need to break the mirror with a hammer and then look at the individual pieces. Each piece is a separate part of the solution and when you work hard enough on them you will get a nice fit that will help address what is an ongoing issue for our city. Our solutions will be affected in part by job creation, increased or retained tax base, economic growth, and sustaining stability that also ensures a high quality of life. Density and mixed use must be on the table for discussion to ensure that all stakeholders are represented and all options are thoroughly explored. Keeping that in mind we should work together to:

1. Use our land more efficiently. Our local economy has changed since I was a kid when just about everyone worked in the timber industry. We have more information and service economy workers landing in Sandpoint. We have a market for live and work housing. We have professionals and part timers working in home offices and these folks like the idea of coffee shops, lunch spots, and maybe some services or business supplies being available. This includes telecommuters, parents that prefer spending more time with their kids than commuting, college students, and others. We need mixed use that is carefully planned and considers everyone and all situations.

1. Make better use of existing infrastructure by increasing density where it is appropriate. Walkable neighborhoods in Sandpoint make more sense if they are thoughtfully planned residential and non-residential uses. Walk to school, walk to get a bite to eat, pick up some milk and bread and do all within a fifteen minute walk of your parked car. We need to ask; is it possible to incorporate this in any of our existing or planned neighborhood developments?

1. New developments should give builders the flexibility to mix it up by allowing both single and multi-family housing. Increased density means less land per widget, reduces site prep, and can lower per unit infrastructure costs and together that can reduce the hard costs of construction. This may result in developers producing more housing at a lower cost to the homeowner.

1. Higher density leads to public transit making more sense, increases our transportation options and may result in less or shorter vehicle trips. Density takes away the need to use every single open space available which can mean more green space preservation for all of the citizens to enjoy and benefit from.

1. Traditional home buyers and developers in new neighborhoods should also consider how much value and energy can be added if the neighborhood included granny-flats, loft style housing, condos, live-work widgets, garden apartments, or row houses. New code could be crafted to allow some changes that will let us take advantage of existing infrastructure and put people within walking or biking distance to their jobs and social activities which in turn lowers their personal costs and takes away some of the parking burden.

1. Community Land Trusts have made affordable housing a dream come true in America and we need to look at all the variations that exist and not fall in love with the first model that comes along. In its most simple form you can think of it as a way that a buyer can purchase a home for less and get the benefits of home ownership like tax deduction for mortgage interest, wealth accumulation via equity, and stable housing costs for their budget. In return for having a path to home ownership that would not otherwise exist for a specific homeowner they give up the potential of huge profits and make it available as affordable housing again.