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Ken Harwood
Advocating for Wisconsin
HarwoodKen [at] Gmail.com
608.334.2174
We are currently using the WisconsinDevelopment email list, please SUBSCRIBE to receive this weekly in the future! You may also subscribe associates at the link. ...Full Story Here
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 Wisconsin’s housing shortage is expected to worsen by the end of the
decade, and outdated zoning codes could make it harder for
municipalities to address the issue. A new report from
Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties
Association, found the state needs to build at least 140,000 housing
units by 2030 to keep up with current demand. If Wisconsin hopes to
increase its working-age population by the end of the decade, the number
of housing units needed jumps to 227,000...
...One of the barriers to providing affordable housing is restrictive zoning codes that often favor single-family homes.
In
the Fox Valley’s city of Neenah for example, a developer planned to
redevelop a 27-acre middle school property into a mixed-use housing
development that consisted of apartments, single-family homes, duplexes
and townhouses. But the property needed to be rezoned to accommodate the
development.
In early December, the Neenah City Council voted
against rezoning the property after pushback from neighborhood
residents. The developer has been given more time to garner city
approval, and has proposed reducing the number of apartments and
eliminating duplexes and townhomes from the project....
"That
need is going to be there, and a major down cycle in terms of housing
will really put us behind the eight-ball in terms of building sufficient
housing, We have to make sure that a significant component of that
housing is affordable to middle class families."
Forward Analytics
Director Dale Knapp
"The lack of quality housing, adequate housing, workforce housing is a problem — probably a crisis in just about every community, But it can seem so big and scary that it`s almost impossible to tackle."
Jerry Deschane, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities
...Full Story HereKen Notes: We linked to the report last week and several media outlets picked up on it. The report from the League (above) is another great place to start the discussion. We also have a Resource Library below.
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 The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reports
the largest budget surplus in Wisconsin history, and Democratic Gov.
Tony Evers and Republican-controlled Legislature disagree over what to
do with the money.MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin`s projected
state budget surplus is forecast to reach $7.1 billion by July, up more
than half a billion dollars from the previous estimate just two months
earlier, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported Jan. 25. It is the largest budget surplus in Wisconsin history... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Imagine taking one or two billion and buying 100,000+ acres and and giving it to developers and communities to build 1 Million smaller homes for retail, service and entry level workers across the state. Challenge architects to create beautiful smaller dwellings of say around 1,200 Square feet or less. Develop shared resources like parks, community centers and access to transit and retail. Even some micro homes on permanent foundations. It is time we got creative and started to solve our problems rather than blame each other for them.
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 With rent costs continuing to rise, the federal
government announced a set of initiatives it, and other stakeholders are
taking to help preserve affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income
renters. Initiatives that will impact Wisconsin
renters include a rent cap at some tax credit-funded properties, more
leniency for some tenants behind on rent, a way to help renters more
easily identify locations where they can use their vouchers and a new
challenge for housing providers and tenants to identify ways to increase
housing affordability. ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: One note and it will become a reoccurring theme here, rentals are good by entry level home ownership is MORE important -- in that it allows people to build equity in the State...
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 APPLETON - City planners have recommended awarding
$1 million in federal assistance to Rise Apartments, a prospective
affordable housing development on North Oneida Street, to keep the
project financially afloat. Appleton set aside $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for affordable housing. If the award is approved by the Common Council, the city would have $2 million remaining. The city previously signed an amended development agreement with MF Housing Partners that would provide up to $649,000, plus interest, in public assistance for Rise Apartments through Tax Incremental Financing District 11. The ARPA grant would be in additional to that. The
$13.9 million development would be built in the 300 and 400 blocks of
North Oneida. It would consist of 48 units, 43 of which would have
restricted rents for low-income residents... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: A great program but remember a rental property does not allow the tenant to build equity for the future. We need to rethink how we provide homes to our retail, service and entry level workers. We need Workforce Housing not affordable housing that provides wealth to the developer not the tenant.
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 Report finds Wisconsin needs to build up to 227K new housing units in next decadeAmy Kaiser is a recently divorced mother of two children. She`s 38-years-old, has a college degree and works at a bank in Elm Grove, earning what she describes as a lower-middle-class income...
...Kaiser wants to live in a home or duplex in Brookfield or Elm Grove. But she can`t afford it.... State is in the midst of severe housing shortage
Kurt Paulsen, an urban planning professor at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, authored a 2019 study from the Wisconsin Realtors
Association, titled "Falling Behind." The
report found the state had a severe workforce housing shortage due to a
decrease in housing construction, rising housing costs and a decline in
homeownership...
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 HOUSING FORUM: A free event on creative solutions to the housing shortage in western Wisconsin will be later this month in Menomonie. Regional economic development organization Momentum West is leading the Housing Solutions Forum, which will be 8:30 a.m. to noon on Jan. 25 at the UW-Stout Memorial Student Center, 302 10th Ave. E. The program will begin with an overview of west-central Wisconsin’s housing picture presented by Momentum West Executive Director Steve Jahn and Scott Hodek, section chief for the office of economic affairs at the state Department of Workforce Development. Other sessions at the forum will address community-based solutions to housing shortages, the impact housing has on workforce development, tiny home construction and the creation of multi-family housing for people of varying income levels. Register online at Momentum West’s website, momentumwest.org, to reserve a seat at the event. ...Full Story Here
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 Sixty county residents answered the Garrett (MD) Workforce Housing Alliance’s invitation to a Jan. 11 dinnertime gathering at Uno’s planned for “building connections.” “It was another magical evening,” .... The group is focusing efforts on meeting the housing needs of the wide swath of residents who make between $35,000 and $65,000 and are therefore disqualified for federal subsidies, but still can’t find or afford available homes.
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: NOT in Wisconsin, but I would be happy to facilitate a meeting like this in your community. There are solutions if we put our heads together.
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 Dane County, with assistance from the private sector, is conducting a survey
that will help it determine how to tackle the region’s ongoing housing
affordability crisis and shortage in the coming months and years.
County residents from all income brackets and backgrounds are invited to take the Community Housing Survey until Feb. 9, said Olivia Parry, senior planner with the Dane County Department of Planning and Development, who is overseeing the study’s marketing and promotion.
Participants can anonymously take the survey, which is available in English, Spanish and Hmong, online or by mail. To request a paper copy of the survey, participants can call 608-301-5465 or email plandev@countyofdane.com with their name and address, Parry said. The survey takes seven to 10 minutes to complete...
...Full Story Here
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 ‘We don’t step down to allow the people who can’t afford to live in Brookfield to come in’Tension is building on the city of Brookfield’s common council over
an affordable housing project. In late November, the Flats at Bishop
Woods housing development earned final approvals from the council. The
203-unit project, the ambition of a California-based developer, would
offer affordable rents in the wealthy suburb.
The housing project, a development of Lincoln Avenue Capital which
also owns properties in Madison, would offer housing for $400 less than
the average Brookfield resident currently pays. Funded by a state energy
grant, the development would be built on a 3.707-acre lot in the
Bishops Woods office park. The four-story project would have mixed-use
dwelling spaces, and would include 312 parking spaces...
Ken Notes: Lets not condemn him for his comments lets educate him about where his coffee comes from. Imagine a Brookfield (or Neenah for that matter) without service, retail, or entry level workers to maintain the businesses they enjoy.
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Wisconsin’s housing shortage is expected to worsen by the end of the
decade, and outdated zoning codes could make it harder for
municipalities to address the issue.A recent report from Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association, found the state needs to build at least 140,000 housing units by 2030 to keep up with current demand. If Wisconsin hopes to increase its working-age population by the end of the decade, the number of housing units needed jumps to 227,000.
The report said the number of baby boomers retiring and remaining in their homes long after retirement is expected to exacerbate Wisconsin’s housing shortage, making it difficult for younger workers to find affordable housing.
As a result, Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp said more young people are living with their parents longer than previous generations...
...Full Story Here
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 MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin’s roughly $550 million pot of cash for emergency rental assistance has just about run out, and the state-run portion is set to end next week. Since the program launched early 2021, the state alone has paid out over $240 million to help almost 40,000 families in 68 Wisconsin counties cover rent, utilities, water and internet. Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld said while there is still more need for housing stability then there are funds available, she considers the program a success. “We’ve heard from recipients of these funds how meaningful it was to know that they had a roof over their head and could have some additional peace of mind,” Blumenfeld said. “It was meant to be temporary relief during the pandemic, and we’re really proud of the number of people that we were able to serve during this time.”...
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: News story at the link...
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 Housing rates are expensive and continue to increase across the country. More and more American renters are seeing their monthly rent increasing, and are now becoming rent-burdened. This means that many tenants are spending 30% or more of their overall income on rent alone. In Milwaukee County, about half of the renting population are currently rent burdened. Chris Krco, a Milwaukee-area housing rights advocate, recommends rent control in Milwaukee as a potential solution... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: This only works if the developer owner is at the table from the onset! If a community can help with interest rates, taxes, land acquisition, vacancy and other out of pocket costs a partnership can be established.
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 Administration also launches Resident-Centered Housing Challenge, a call-to-action to improve the quality of life for renters
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new actions to
increase fairness in the rental market and further principles of fair
housing. These actions align with a new Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights that
the Administration is also releasing today. The Blueprint lays out a
set of principles to drive action by the federal government, state and
local partners, and the private sector to strengthen tenant protections
and encourage rental affordability. Key actions announced today include:... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Read the details at the link. I will also add this to our permanent resource list.
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 What is workforce housing? That’s the question to be answered as Beloit authorities contemplate a proposal to develop residential units west of the Rock River, intended to create more options for working families. Facts are few and will be forthcoming as the proposal is brought forward for city consideration. Withholding judgment until the plan is fleshed out is the reasonable approach...
...Making progress on the housing front can be a crucial element toward developing a full-service community. Giving people a reason to live here and the properties to do so seems a reasonable step toward creating forward momentum.
A workforce housing project could be part of the solution. We look forward to hearing details of the plan, and urge the community to listen carefully.
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: We need to sit down with developers and builders to discuss their needs in building more affordable housing units.
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 This is the third issue of the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS’® Home Affordability Report. The centerpiece of this quarterly report is a chart that breaks down recent home sales in over forty communities and gives the median monthly payment, including principal, interest, mortgage insurance, and property taxes in three price brackets — upper-third, middle-third, and lower-third of homes sold – based on the municipal tax rate and a 30-year, 5.5% fixed-rate loan with 3% down. Most published reports on the housing market focus on macro statistics, with average sale prices drawing the most attention. But when prospective buyers are deciding whether and where to shop for a home, there is another compelling and relevant factor: the average monthly payment. ... ...Full Story Here
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 The Zilber Family Foundation awarded today $3.9 million in grants to 15 nonprofit organizations throughout Milwaukee. This round of funding includes grants to the Social Development Commission, VIA CDC and United Methodist Children’s Services, three organizations focused on increasing access to quality and affordable housing.
“Years of discriminatory housing practices, coupled with the
continued increase in out-of-state investors and economic uncertainty,
have drastically diminished the ability for thousands of Milwaukee
families to purchase homes, particularly in African American and Latino
communities,” said Gina Stilp, executive director of the Zilber Family
Foundation. “Our board and staff firmly believe that increasing
affordable housing requires targeted and sustained investment. We are
excited to support organizations committed to scaling solutions in our
community.”...
Ken Notes: Thank you! and you may wat to drop them a thank you note as well. There email is info@zilberfamilyfoundation.org...
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 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of
Agriculture began planning this month to develop outdoor recreation
opportunities near national forests and grasslands, part of a broader
Biden administration push to help communities reap economic rewards from
the growing recreation sector.
Three USDA agencies — the U.S. Forest
Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Office
of Rural Development — signed a memorandum of understanding
last fall pledging to collaborate on plans to develop outdoor
recreation economies in “gateway communities” near national forests and
grasslands, according to a Jan. 19 press release... ...Priorities for the first plan will
include development of affordable housing around gateway communities and
giving more opportunities for people of color, low-income residents and
members of the LGBTQ community to visit outdoor recreation spaces...
...Full Story Here
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 Development Foundation looks at need for housing for those looking to downsize from their family homes For decades, the focus of the Medford Area Development Foundation has been to facilitate bringing jobs and economic opportunity to the community. Over the years, development foundation members and leadership have worked largely behind the scenes with the goal of keeping the Medford community strong and vibrant. In recent years, that focus has shifted toward addressing the ongoing worker shortage impacting not only Taylor County but rural communities across the country. The development foundation leadership recognized that when it comes to getting workers from the factory to the board room, it is essential for those people to have someplace to live in the community...
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Yet another area to talk about, and I promise the boomers of today do NOT want the facilities they put their parents in. Aging in place is the new norm it will be about lifestyle, amenities, access to health care and opportunity.
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 The long-delayed plans to build a new King Drive library branch, with affordable apartments attached, is proceeding toward a spring construction start in Milwaukee`s Harambee neighborhood. The Plan Commission on Monday recommended selling the current library site, at the northwest corner of North King Drive and West Locust Street, as well as two other neighboring parcels to the project`s developers. The three city-owned parcels are to sell for $1 each... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Again Rental, but Milwaukee is doing a nice job of converting city owned property into the development they want to see. If we are looking to maximize our surplus dollars, earmarking it for communities to develop more workforce housing is worth thinking about!
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 The state is facing a workforce housing
shortage and rising costs, but some cities and towns make it difficult
to build new housing near jobs.A debate over workforce housing is brewing in Wisconsin communities as housing costs rise and workers struggle to find affordable housing near their jobs. Writing in Urban Milwaukee, Evan Casey describes the mounting crisis.
As Casey explains, “Wisconsin has a shortage of more than 123,000 rental units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. A January study from Forward Analytics also found that Wisconsin needs to build up to 227,000 new housing units this decade in order to solve its housing needs.” Meanwhile, there are 1.37 jobs for every home in Waukesha County, the county with the highest imbalance in the state. ...
...Full Story Here
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 The formation of a task force or a committee to home in on Polk County housing needs could be a focus of county leaders in the coming months. The members of the county Health and Human Services Committee last week discussed the potential for bringing together county, community, and housing experts to find a path to bring new facilities to the county, whether it’s senior housing, workforce housing, low-income housing, or a combination... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Let us know if we can help...
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 FROM THE MAYOR
...Housing continues to be a challenge. I
think it is safe to say, the need for more housing in Columbus will
never go away. Because our community continues to grow, so does the need
for more housing of all kind — workforce housing, affordable housing,
apartments, duplexes, townhomes. A housing study from last year
indicated that Columbus needs 150 “doors” per year just to stay even. We
must continue our partnerships with other agencies (NeighborWorks,
Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Family Services, just to name a few), and
continue looking at creative ways to increase construction...
Ken Notes: It is a reoccurring theme...
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Ken Notes: To add a resource send it to HarwoodKen [at] gmail.com...
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 The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today unveiled a robust legislative platform for 2023. In visits with elected and appointed leaders, WCMA members called for increased investment in state programs to boost dairy exports and spur dairy business development, action to ensure food labeling accuracy, updated transportation regulations, continued expansion of high-speed broadband internet access and other key workforce supports, among other items...
- WORKFORCE SUPPORT: WCMA members champion programs supported by state dollars to provide affordable housing, childcare and eldercare, and workforce training, particularly in rural communities.
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JGSMHEW6BJHF3FOPBWTPF4MY7I.png) MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - City developers
want to revitalize the south side of Madison through a $115 million
project funded through taxes, but without raising taxes. City
of Madison Economic Development Director Matt Mikolajewski is proposing
a plan to form a new tax increment financing district on the south side
of Madison called TID 51. A TID or
TIF is one specific area where the city can control how new tax revenue
is spent. TID 51 revenue would be spent on public works projects,
affordable housing, revitalization projects, and economic community
development assistance for small businesses... ...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: I am a fan of TID Financing but I like to see a specific project serve as the anchor tied to a binding development agreement. This guarantees both income from increment and serves as a catalyst for other growth. Not to mention you are not gambling with your investment.
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 MILWAUKEE — Habitat for Humanity teamed up with Arch Solar to bring solar power to 35 of its recently built homes in Milwaukee. Chris Garrison is the construction and operations director of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. He walked through the Harambee neighborhood, where solar panels have been installed on the homes they’ve recently built. “We are really trying to make an impact and get more homeowners in the neighborhood and fill those vacant lots with some new homes and bring some good families in to help grow the neighborhood and give some good affordable options for these homeowners,” said Garrison. An organization called “Focus on Energy” provided $550,000 to pay for the installation of the solar panels. Garrison said this will be a big deal for the homeowners that will live there....
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: I am a huge Habitat fan not to mention Focus on Energy. Win Win!
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 After more than a decade leading the
Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing, executive director Tammy
Modic is leaving the organization. She reflects on how housing in the
Northwoods has changed during her tenure.Over the past decade, the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing and Frederick Place have helped nearly a thousand people find housing in the Northwoods.
The organization has doubled its budget from less than $200,000 a year to $400,000.
And it has added additional staff and board members.
All of this growth happened under the direction of the organization’s first and only executive director: Tammy Modic...
...Full Story Here
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 WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities (PDF, 175 KB) expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security.
“These critical investments will benefit rural people and businesses
in many ways for decades to come,” Vilsack said. “This funding will help
rural cooperatives and utilities invest in changes that make our energy
more efficient, more reliable, and more affordable. Investing in
infrastructure – roads, bridges, broadband and energy – supports
good-paying jobs and keeps the United States poised to lead the global
economy.”... ...Full Story Here
Notes:
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 The article "Where will we put new people?” in Monday`s State Journal was incredibly insulting. Dale Knapp, director of Forward Analytics, a nonpartisan research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association,
says: "The baby boomers ... are going to retire, but they’re going to
remain in their homes for 10, 15, 20 years. ... they’re effectively
taking housing units out of what I would consider the workforce housing
stock." This is incredibly
shortsighted. Retirees who have achieved that milestone should stay in
their homes as long as they want and not give a thought about "housing
stock." People should think about their parents and grandparents before
supporting this view.
Ken Notes: Author missed the point. Homes under 200K are "taken" and we are not building any new ones. We are not asking boomers to give them up, we are asking for ways to build more.
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 SPEARFISH — The demand for affordable
housing in the Northern Black Hills prompted the city of Spearfish to
create a subdivision solely catered to the workforce – Sky Ridge. But
the desire for short-term housing rentals, such as Airbnb and VRBO, has
also skyrocketed. The need for both have now collided, as at least one Airbnb listing is within the Sky Ridge subdivision. In August 2022, the first families moved into the subdivisions, which remains under construction.
Ken Notes: First lets applaud South Dakota for creating the development. Second owners will try what they can get away with so you need to be diligent. Finally we need developments where a diverse network of housing can be built. We have to stop blatant segregation caused by zoning and neighborhood covenants...
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 In
Oregon, mass timber is increasingly being viewed as a construction
material that could help the state build more affordable homes and
revive rural logging townsInside a warehouse at the industrial Port of Portland lies what some believe could be the answer to Oregon’s housing crisis — a prototype of an affordable housing unit made from mass timber.
Once mass-produced at the factory being planned at the port, the units
ranging from 426 square feet to 1,136 square feet could be deployed
across the state to be assembled in urban and rural communities alike,
potentially alleviating a critical housing shortage that has driven Oregon’s high rates of homelessness...
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: I love this program....
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 Realtor.com’s Market Hotness rankings take into account two aspects of the housing market: 1) market demand, as measured by unique views per property on Realtor.com, and 2) the pace of the market as measured by the number of days a listing remains active on Realtor.com...
Also of note: - Portsmouth, Virginia
- DeForest, Wisconsin
- Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- Gloucester City, New Jersey
- Moore, Oklahoma
- Magna, Utah
- Eggertsville, New York
- Watervliet, New York
- Mattydale, New York
- Somersworth, New Hampshire
...Full Story Here
Ken Notes: Two from Wisconsin and congrats Deforest...
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Across Wisconsin many employees can simply not afford to live where they work. This is true in big cities and small rural communities. Both the availability and price of housing is not in line with the needs of those working in jobs that are vital to the success of our communities. Imagine a teacher, city employee, service or retail worker not able to afford a simple home in the community they serve. We hope to aggregate news and highlight programs that are working to provide affordable workforce housing in Wisconsin. We will advocate for state and local policies that improve the more affordable housing markets. We will encourage developers to build new homes that are affordable for those working for Wisconsin while still making a fair profit on the work they do. We will encourage communities and neighborhoods to become partners in meeting these needs. We will highlight what others have done as a form of "Best Practices" in the State and Country. Finally, we will provide direct links to resources and programs in the State.
We believe Wisconsin employers will support these efforts so they can successfully recruit workers to fill the thousands of job openings now hampered by a shortage of affordable housing. Safe, affordable housing makes a difference in the lives of children and families impacting both education and health. We are supporting affordable housing because it is good for business, good for families, good for communities and good for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) and WisconsinDevelopment.com have agreed to begin the weekly publication, website, and resource database -- BUT WE NEED HELP. We need partners willing to make small contributions of $1,000 or more. We also need any organization working on Workforce Housing to share their stories are resources with us. Please call us if you can help: Also Do not forget to subscribe.
Eric Giordano
Executive Director WIPPS
715-261-6388
egiordano [at] uwsa.edu
Ken Harwood Editor / Publisher 608-334-2174 widevelopmentnews [at] gmail.com
...Full Story Here
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Start Week: 2 - Query String:SELECT * FROM wwh WHERE `issue` > 2 and volume = 11 OR `issue` > 90 ORDER BY sortorder
Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
