The future of Post Falls housing: What changes do residents want?

POST FALLS — Post Falls hopes to learn how housing needs are being met through a housing survey.   

Community development director Bob Seale said the survey will let people share their experiences on housing.

“The city’s goal is provide the best plan for the greatest number of people in hopes of creating a strong, livable community for anyone who calls Post Falls home now or in the future,” Seale said.  

Post Falls planning manager Jon Manley said mixed-use housing developments have initiated a positive response because of the "livability” near small pockets of commercial business.    

Manley said city officials and staff don’t “craft code whimsically.” Any major city coding decisions are based on community responses that will serve the largest chunk of the population.

In recent years as the population has expanded, creating diversity in housing development projects has become a priority in Post Falls, Manley said. He compared diverse housing needs with that of a stock portfolio. 

“You diversify investments and can do the same thing with housing,” Manley said.

City staff has also found that reducing the size of land parcels where houses are built has made homeownership more attainable. 

Twin homes are being developed in Post Falls, which can come at a more affordable or attainable price.  

Housing and employment are tied together, Manley said, and incentivizing youth to stay in the area by making sure future housing needs are addressed now is also high on the list of objectives for the future of Post Falls.

Seale said past resident responses indicate that about 30% of Post Falls residents don’t have homeownership as a goal.  

Residents or potential residents of Post Falls are invited to fill out the survey at https://camoin.surveysparrow.com/s/City-of-Post-Falls-Housing-Survey/tt-DFIiC.

The survey closes Jan. 17. A public presentation of results is scheduled Jan. 27.