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<br />approving too much rental development, or different state tax burdens on <br />rental housing. <br /> <br />1) Some interviewees question whether neighborhood reinvestment <br />programs are gentrifYing older neighborhoods and driving up prices <br />beyond what workforce households can afford. <br /> <br />g) Relationships between government and developers need to be more of a <br />partnership to address issues of the market and development process. <br />What is the proper role of government? <br /> <br />h) Housing is one of the keys to growth in addition to transportation, training <br />and childcare. <br /> <br />Focus Groups A series offocus groups was convened in April 2006. The 30 <br />participants included people from the housing industry, public and elected <br />officials, and a number of concerned agencies and employers. These participants <br />identified several major concerns, barriers and interests that constrain both local <br />governments and developers from producing workforce housing. <br /> <br />Below is a summary of the views-perceptions-expressed by the participants. <br />These are valuable guides to help determine the facts needed to implement various <br />regional strategies to increase the supply of workforce housing. <br /> <br />~ COSTS Government zoning and subdivision regulations are a major cost~ <br />some developers estimate they constitute about one-third of the development <br />cost. Special assessments that are used to finance public improvements, i.e., <br />"Specials", are also a major cost. Specials are confusing and processed <br />differently by each community. It mayor may not be feasible for developers <br />and governments to change. Other public cost drivers include parkland <br />dedication requirements and the processltiming of developing parks, <br />property tax increases on the underlying appreciation, storm water <br />regulations. <br /> <br />~ PRODUCT There is a lack of diversity of types of homes for sale. Costs of <br />materials, shortages, interest rates and energy costs are all rising. Another <br />concern is that less expensive housing materials are not good and that rental <br />housing with rents under $600 per month cannot be constructed given <br />cUrrent costs. <br /> <br />18 <br /> <br />Linda S. Donnelly. ;\.I.e.P. <br /> <br />;\ ugust 2006 <br />