News-Gazette, Town Hall #10: Housing
Urbana, IL (News-Gazette)—Asks Urbana resident ESTHER PATT: Two-thirds of non-university housing units in Urbana are rental and the vacancy rate is over 10 percent but Urbana planning officials are saying Urbana needs more rental housing, especially in single-family neighborhoods. What are your thoughts?
“Renters span the age and income spectrum, and there should be choices for them, no matter where they fall on the continuum.
“We should ensure that our residents have choices when it comes to where they live, how they live, with whom they live and how much of their income they spend on the home they live in.
“Urbana is a transient community. Between the University of Illinois and health-care institutions that bring in visiting faculty and staff, people are looking for nice places to live but don’t want to buy. People don’t spend 20 to 30 years at a job like they used to.
“Any single-family home can become a rental, regardless of location. Over the years, smaller, less expensive homes that used to be owner-occupied have become rented. Renters, especially those with children, often want single-family houses instead of being in multi-family buildings.
“There seems to be some demand for condos and town homes as people age, downsize and want to live closer to amenities but don’t want a yard or a big house to maintain.
“With a limited supply of homes for first-time home buyers, Urbana’s Enterprise Zone program has successfully incentivized new home construction. In addition, the city’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity has built over 55 houses in Urbana, mainly for families.
“We will conduct a housing study to obtain accurate information on housing in Urbana and ensure that needs align with our broader social, economic and environmental goals of building a safe, affordable and connected Urbana.”
—ANNIE ADAMS
