In a recent survey, builders and planners cited difficulty in generating community support as a key challenge to getting more affordable housing projects built.
The survey by coUrbanize found that 94% of respondents tried to gain community input and support through public meetings, but many were frustrated by low attendance. Few respondents thought the process was productive.
One reason community engagement is lacking may be that even when feedback is received, only 55% of respondents said they modified their plans resulting from public responses. This may discourage the public from taking the time to comment.
Despite the difficulties, including challenges in obtaining financing and labor shortages, demand is high for affordable housing. Two-thirds of respondents in the July survey said that their most active projects in the next six months will be building affordable and supportive housing.
coUrbanize says that developers and planners should try to reach out to the community beyond scheduled public meetings. It’s worth the effort because generating public support for projects reduces risks, coUrbanize added.
Related Stories
Sponsored | MFPRO+ News | Jun 20, 2024
Unlocking the Future: Modernizing Access Control in Multifamily Housing
Explore how advanced access control systems are transforming multifamily housing. Learn about Salto’s DBolt Touch and Homelok platforms, designed to enhance security, streamline operations, and improve resident satisfaction with keyless, mobile-ready solutions.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 17, 2024
Elevating multifamily properties through quiet luxury
As the demands of urban living continue to evolve, the need for a tranquil and refined home environment has never been more pronounced.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 14, 2024
AEC inspections are the key to financially viable office to residential adaptive reuse projects
About a year ago our industry was abuzz with an idea that seemed like a one-shot miracle cure for both the shockingly high rate of office vacancies and the worsening housing shortage. The seemingly simple idea of converting empty office buildings to multifamily residential seemed like an easy and elegant solution. However, in the intervening months we’ve seen only a handful of these conversions, despite near universal enthusiasm for the concept.
Senior Living Design | Jun 13, 2024
Crystal Pacific Windows bring sunshine to senior living community
Crystal Pacific Window & Door Systems, the West Coast production affiliate of national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems, recently supplied over 400 energy efficient vinyl windows for a new affordable housing community in San Diego, Calif.
Affordable Housing | Jun 12, 2024
Studio Libeskind designs 190 affordable housing apartments for seniors
In Brooklyn, New York, the recently opened Atrium at Sumner offers 132,418 sf of affordable housing for seniors. The $132 million project includes 190 apartments—132 of them available to senior households earning below or at 50% of the area median income and 57 units available to formerly homeless seniors.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 11, 2024
Rents rise in multifamily housing for May 2024
Multifamily rents rose for the fourth month in a row, according to the May 2024 National Multifamily Report. Up 0.6% year-over-year, the average U.S. asking rent increased by $6 in May, up to $1,733.
Apartments | Jun 4, 2024
Apartment sizes on the rise after decade-long shrinking trend
The average size of new apartments in the U.S. saw substantial growth in 2023, bouncing back to 916 sf after a steep decline the previous year. That is according to a recent RentCafe market insight report released this month.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 3, 2024
Grassroots groups becoming a force in housing advocacy
A growing movement of grassroots organizing to support new housing construction is having an impact in city halls across the country. Fed up with high housing costs and the commonly hostile reception to new housing proposals, advocacy groups have sprung up in many communities to attend public meetings to speak in support of developments.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 3, 2024
New York’s office to residential conversion program draws interest from 64 owners
New York City’s Office Conversion Accelerator Program has been contacted by the owners of 64 commercial buildings interested in converting their properties to residential use.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 3, 2024
Seattle mayor wants to scale back energy code to spur more housing construction
Seattle’s mayor recently proposed that the city scale back a scheduled revamping of its building energy code to help boost housing production. The proposal would halt an update to the city’s multifamily and commercial building energy code that is scheduled to take effect later this year.