{"id":528,"date":"2017-05-18T11:39:52","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T11:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.meltropolis.com\/blog\/?p=528"},"modified":"2017-05-18T14:24:38","modified_gmt":"2017-05-18T14:24:38","slug":"part-i-more-housing-choices-are-coming-ferndale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.meltropolis.com\/blog\/part-i-more-housing-choices-are-coming-ferndale\/","title":{"rendered":"Part I: More Housing Choices Are Coming to Ferndale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Housing for All Ferndalians & Income Levels<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

This is a two part blog post on the development growth spurt and new housing in Ferndale. <\/span><\/p>\n

In Part One: I explore why new housing projects help the city address housing needs for everyone.<\/p>\n

In Part Two: I discuss city initiatives to create inclusive housing policies, and responding to residents questions and\/or concerns.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Growth Spurt<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Ferndale is growing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our community is a highly desirable place to live–we are #ferndalenormal, walkable and bikeable. We are a \u201cmaker\u201d community (vodka, beer, mead, chips, salsa, candles, furniture, etc). The city has easy access to major highways. We are close to Downtown Detroit. Have you seen our bike lanes?<\/p>\n

Combined, all these awesomesauce ingredients equal a highly desirable place to live. But now we now have a new challenge –or opportunity. \u00a0Half glass full, I say!<\/p>\n

After sluggish new housing growth from the Great Recession, we\u00a0have a housing supply and demand problem.<\/p>\n

High demand for multi-family housing – apartments, town homes, condos and lofts (called <\/span>missing middle housing<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0More on this later) and yes, our lovely single-family homes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low supply of alternative housing options for seniors that no longer want to take care of their backyard or climb stairs to do their laundry. (check out my post on Age-Friendly Ferndale<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Low supply of multi-family for boomers (retirees), millennials (young professionals and trades people) and our hard working class who make daily living enjoyable (students, restaurant servers, retail workers, teachers, public safety workers, etc).<\/p>\n

Have You Heard About the National Housing Crisis?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Rural and urban areas in the US face an affordable housing supply problem. \u00a0A little context here: <\/span><\/p>\n

Silent Housing Crisis: A Snapshot of Current and Future Conditions<\/span><\/a> and here:<\/span><\/p>\n

Urban Institute Affordable Housing Report<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Check out <\/span>City Lab\u2019s County Affordability Map;<\/a>\u00a0it<\/span>\u00a0showcases via mapping the rural and urban affordability problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

This crisis means that people of all incomes levels and ages are have difficulty finding housing that fits their needs and price points. \u00a0Ferndale is impacted by this crisis (to what extent is being researched now by city staff).<\/p>\n

The Development Projects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Great Recession\u00a0is over; the real estate market has returned. Developers want to build in Ferndale.<\/p>\n

Check out my <\/span>running list of proposed housing \u00a0and mixed use development projects<\/span><\/a>, stage, location and number of units.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under construction now….the Ferndalehaus Lofts<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
www.ferndalehaus.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In total, 687 new units (town homes, condos, lofts, apartments and single-family homes) have been proposed; 201 units are under construct<\/span>ion now.<\/p>\n