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<br />Strategic Initiative 3: <br />Increase community acceptance of workforce housing <br /> <br />Leadership is the most important element of this strategy. Public and private <br />leaders decide to go with facts not fear. <br /> <br />In all aspects of the public review and approval process for the development of <br />workforce housing, local officials must require good, high-density design. <br />Developers must build quality products and local officials should be willing to <br />make trade-offs in materials, finishes, square footages, and other code and <br />subdivision regulations to achieve the end product of an affordably priced house or <br />apartment. <br /> <br />Emphasis for workforce rental housing must be placed on effective, professional <br />management. The production of rental housing units needs to be done in relation <br />to market demand. <br /> <br />The local communities should engage in "myth busting". Provide facts about <br />workforce housing and publicize them. The most common myths surrounding <br />workforce housing are "property values will decline", "crime will increase", <br />"neighborhood stability will be destroyed" and "traffic will increase". Document <br />the success of existing workforce neighborhoods. Sponsor a parade of homes of <br />typical workforce housing products in new single-family subdivisions and <br />apartment communities. A parade of homes for infill or rehabilitated housing in <br />neighborhood revitalization areas can also be undertaken. <br /> <br />Community leaders need to advocate and support specific workforce housing <br />developments. Begin supportive educational and advocacy efforts well before any <br />particular project comes up for approval. Developers can hold open house events. <br />Rental developers can negotiate model neighborhood agreements with neighbors. <br /> <br />ACTIONS <br /> <br />,( Seek funding from local general fund sources, community foundations, <br />corporate contributions and grants to provide facts instead of myths. <br /> <br />Funds should be garnered to support local research on property value trends in <br />actual neighborhoods in the metro area, for sponsorship of tours of workforce <br /> <br />37 <br /> <br />Lind;; S, D\lImelly. ;\.I.C.I'. <br /> <br />A ugusl 2006 <br />