The PC story today: Council to take on affordable housing

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The PC story today: Council to take on affordable housing

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Started 2 years ago by Charlotte Walker
Latest reply from Dan Brown

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Charlotte Walker
Member

At this time there are 22 comments written on that story by people who do not need to show their real names. What do the people who are willing to show their names think about the subject of that story: Affordable housing in Iowa City? Though I would hope some members of OTR would talk on the subject, I doubt that many will do that.

As a starter, I will post below my comment that I made a few minutes ago in the ordinary comment section:

cw76ic wrote:

It is good to see that Bob333 and Joyce (jm1989) bring up mobile homes in relation to affordable housing, housing that does not require public subsidies. Joyce is so right in her comments about how the city views mobile homes.

This week Maria may have discovered a troubling plan regarding a current Iowa City mobile home park. Maria attended the IC Planning department's meeting that took place on Feb. 23. Maria told about a map that was distributed at that meeting. She said that the map shows a new feeder road to be run right through Modern Manor Mobile Home park. Just think about what a busy road would that do to the park. Could it even mean a yet unspoken city plan to get rid of that park? I don't know but I have asked the planning department about what Maria wrote. I already got a brief reply that they would do some checking about what I asked.

It would be terrible to lose or destroy that mobile home park with a busy road ripping it apart.

Posted 2 years ago #
Dan Brown
Member

I'll be happy to comment Charlotte. I think GarryK on the anonymous boards made a very astute observation about this topic. He wrote,

"...one way to effectively make sure that no side of town is overburdened by less-than-median priced housing is through a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy. I also know that for the private sector to be moved to do it, necessary incentives such as expedited project approval and certain building fee reductions or elimination are needed to help them get behind the effort. Affordable housing means all kinds of housing choices and that is good for the entire community."

I think the particularly insightful part of his statement is that the private sector must have some incentive to approve of, and support, inclusionary zoning.

I also think Dave the Elder makes a good point when he remarks that what first needs to be done it to define "affordable housing." When you look through the posts it seems that many of the commenters seem to assume that affordable housing is a crackerbox shack or mega-apartment buildings of substandard construction. I don't think that's necessarily what it needs to be. For example: You brought up manufactured housing parks. Well I've grown up with people who have lived in Bon Aire their entire adult lives. It's a nice place. Clean and safe. Same goes for Modern Manor. I'm friends with several people who live very happily there. Their kids go to school with mine and play together.

I live in what I think is a good example of mixed residential - The Arlington development just off of Court St. There are single-family homes, townhouses, zero-lots and apartment-style condos - all within spitting distance of one another. There are owner-occupied units and rentals. A person could pay $300K for a house, $180K for a townhouse, or rent a condo for a very reasonable price.

I'm not sure what incentives the City offered Gary Watts and John Moreland when they developed the neighborhood, but I can tell you that they managed to fill everything they built.

Dan

Dan Brown's opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Press-Citizen, its editorial board or employees.

Posted 2 years ago #
Joyce Barker
Member

I just did a few calculations with a mortgage calculator on the internet and to purchase a home within the low income available moneys the price of the home would have to be below $50,000... I also searched and there are none in Iowa City.

I also checked the paper and for a single person or family it is difficult if not impossible to find an apartment for $350 per month.

To stay in the $350 per month range you can only share payments with someone else or live in a mobile home....
Most mobile home parks lot rent is less than $300 so renting to own would be possible within that price frame.

Now tell me why the city looks down it's nose at mobile homes?

Because of the joke about trailer trash.... well there is that stereotype.... and sadly it does exhist... but take a look around... there are people who fit that stereotype who live in houses too....

Once again.. .a mobile home park is only as good as it's management.... bad management, just like apartments, leads to bad living conditions....

Regulate them the same.. treat them the same as apartment owners....

This is REAL low income housing... only these are the people who don't want the governments help and you know what... that makes them nicer to be around.... They are trying VERY hard to make a life!

Not that those who need government help are not trying but there are larger percentage in that group that are just taking the money and not trying.....

Posted 2 years ago #
Dan Brown
Member

I think you hit the nail on the head Joyce. As I pointed out above, there are very well managed and nice mobile home courts. There are also those that are not so. There are modest but clean and safe aparment communities and there are those that are not. The thing is that this has ALWAYS been in existance in Iowa City/Coralville. Perhaps it would be beneficial to differentiate the two types and not lump them together under the definition of "affordable housing." Not ALL affordable neighborhoods are dilapidated and unsafe. Perhaps they should be the model for our definition.
Dan

Dan Brown's opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Press-Citizen, its editorial board or employees.

Posted 2 years ago #

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