Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Affordable Housing

[Brian Bartholomew (bartholomew.brian]

To keep costs low, the project I was involved in wanted swales, no
curbs, no sidewalks, few streetlights.  The city required curbs,
sidewalks, fancy streetlight poles.  The difference pushed estimated
per-unit price from $125K/unit to $215K/unit, which was unaffordable.

Other expensive permit requirements included: all building footprints
had to be approved up front, which then required them all to be built
inside two years and paid for up front with a big mortgage, preventing
planning for possible future reduced circumstances.  Residents could
not live on site in a trailer or RV while building.

Repeal all the site permit requirements unrelated to fire, sewer, wind
hazards and houses might be buildable for $50K.

Brian