Yes, we can grow responsibly

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past year or so, you have been exposed to the unprecedented influx of newcomers to our area. Growth is a healthy component for every community and the challenge becomes how to manage growth in a fashion that allows new residents along with established neighbors to have a place that they can call home.

History tells us that the primary factor in meeting that housing need has always boiled down to one important ingredient, affordability.

The North Idaho Building Contractors Association (NIBCA) has been advocating for the building industry for more than 50 years. NIBCA has been listening closely to the current sentiment and commentary on this topic of growth and the impact it is having on all our communities.

It is easy to have some level of appreciation for the anti-growth perspective, but in the end, we need to be careful about what we wish for. It has been demonstrated time and time again that when you stop or severely limit growth, housing inventory goes down and the average price of a home or apartment goes up.

If the opportunity to create affordable housing goes away, so does our skilled labor force, service employees and opportunity for future generations.

Affordable housing must be a significant consideration in any discussion related to managed growth in our area or at some point, we will not have someone to serve us at restaurants, repair our vehicles or assist us with home repairs. This type of housing scenario is simply not sustainable.

The NIBCA represents over 225 member companies providing over 7,970 local jobs that employ those who are working hard to support their families and make contributions to our various communities. This includes all forms of housing that will make our part of the world an inclusionary one.

The NIBCA believes that creative solutions to responsible growth are within our collective reach and scope. Ideas such as mixed neighborhoods to include single family homes, cottage type construction and multi-family units create varying price points, demographics, and as importantly, inclusivity. This good growth strategy allows retirees as well as growing and young families to live together in neighborhoods that are truly representative of us. All of us!

There is no doubt that what lies ahead for us and how we manage the growth of our communities will demand a collaborative effort. The NIBCA wants to be at the table with the cities, counties, school boards and the citizens of this place we call paradise to make decisions related to managed growth that will allow a healthy cross section of residents.

The regional character of the challenge ahead demands an inclusive representation from all stakeholders. Ignoring the issue won’t make it go away. The NIBCA will endeavor to be a participant in this important conversation going forward.

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Mike Moore is president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association and Atlas Building Group.