New study takes stab at growth issues
Work on a new study on regional housing has begun to gather data and aims to publish in September.
During a Monday meeting of the Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership working group, conductors of the study detailed their intentions to define the current market and forecast future variables.
The partnership — made up of regional planners, elected representatives, administrators, organizations, and community groups — was formed early this year to address housing and growth issues in Kootenai County.
Divided into two bodies — the working and advisory groups — participants have begun gathering public input and information to provide education and offer ideas to better the county at large.
Funded by the Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance and the Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Council, the new study will be conducted by University of Idaho professors Steven Peterson and Tim Nadreau.
"The sharp increase of housing prices and subsequent shortage of affordable housing has become particularly acute in the broader Kootenai County region," Peterson told The Press on Wednesday. "Housing availability and affordability is one of the top challenges facing the local communities and business development."
The study plans to provide insight on the housing situation in Kootenai and Shoshone counties through interviews with local organizations and individuals and information gathering.
Specifics expected to be in the assessment are:
• Land availability and inventory within and outside city boundaries
• Local pricing trends
• Local ownership percentages
• Types of available housing
• Products in the process of production
• Population needs
With the assistance of the regional partnership, Coeur d’Alene City Councilwoman Kiki Miller told The Press that the study has an “ambitious timeline” to be completed this fall.
Miller said the study should create a “clearer picture of where we are and where demand is forecast to go” in multiple areas and scenarios.
“I think this is the first step in confirming information that will help us formulate recommendations to deal with this growth and housing issues that escalated dramatically in this last year,” Miller said. “To provide resources on this topic and coordinate on things like this study are just a positive result of our effort to deal with this unprecedented growth.”
Contributions that Miller said will be provided by the partnership and regional city administrators include:
• Providing pertinent questions
• Previously collected data
• Communication assistance
• Initial public and professional input on the Kootenai County housing situation
• Future constraints and impediments identified by planners
The Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership meets monthly. All meetings are recorded and published alongside FAQs, group rosters, agendas and other associated links.
Info: www.kmpo.net/regional-housing-growth-issues-partnership/