In this episode, Jeff Carroll and Phil Erhardt explore the objection that a proposed multifamily community will adversely affect public utilities, including stormwater, sanitary sewer, and domestic water systems. Jeff presents unique solutions to this objection.
Author Archives: Jeff Carroll
The Role of Manufactured Housing in Addressing the Affordable Housing Crisis
If you thought getting workforce housing zoned was hard, just try getting approvals for a new manufactured home community. I know, because that’s what I did in the 1990s. People would rather have a brothel in their back yard than a mobile home park.
From the piece:
“Tacky trailers or the new face of affordable housing? That’s the debate policy-makers and advocates are having across Virginia as they work to figure out what role manufactured units should play in addressing the commonwealth’s affordable housing crisis.”
https://www.nbc12.com/2021/02/15/could-trailers-be-new-face-affordable-housing/
HousingThink – Episode 24
Semantics play a big role in the opposition to affordable housing. In this episode Jeff and Phil discuss a news story about the recent rezoning in a South Carolina community. Jeff will also discuss how he handles green or open space objections.
NIMBY Wordplay
Classic NIMBY tactic. Instead of referring to this proposal as a 48-unit affordable housing community, it’s being referred to by opponents as a 300-person apartment complex.
Three observations:
1) “48 units” versus “300-person”
2) “affordable housing” versus “apartment”
3) “community” versus “complex”
This sort of wordplay is really dishonest. If you have a problem with a project, attack it on its merits instead of using word manipulation or rhetoric.
From the piece:
“The uncertainty of what a two or 300 person apartment complex would bring to the area is not something we want to roll the dice on….”
https://www.wtoc.com/2021/02/11/some-concerned-by-port-royal-affordable-housing-proposal/
HousingThink – Episode 23
Communities often use school overcrowding as a reason to reject affordable & workforce housing development proposals. In the second episode of our Impact Analysis series, Jeff Carroll and Philipp Erhardt explore ways to address this objection.
HousingThink – Episode 22
“There’s going to be too much traffic!”
This is generally the first objection neighbors use when an Affordable or Workforce housing development is proposed for their area. Jeff Carroll and Philipp Erhardt discuss strategies for dealing with this objection.
HousingThink – Episode 21
This is the first episode in a series that looks at the challenges developers face from municipalities and neighborhoods when proposing affordable and workforce housing developments. Jeff Carroll and Phil Erhardt present examples of the most often used arguments against developers. Jeff outlines a successful methodology he has used over the last 20 years to respond to objections.
HousingThink – Episode 20
Dr. Philip Agee Assistant Professor of Building Construction at Virginia Tech discusses with Jeff Carroll and Doug Koch off-site vs. on-site construction, design, research, data collection and analysis.
Part 2 of 2
HousingThink – Episode 19
Dr. Philip Agee Assistant Professor of Building Construction at Virginia Tech discusses with Jeff Carroll and Doug Koch off-site vs. on-site construction, design, research, data collection and analysis.
Part 1 of 2
Not In My City
“You can work here, but don’t think about living here.”
This is the mantra of affluent cities relying on less affluent cities to provide for their affordable housing needs.
From the piece:
“Manteca is Brentwood’s affordable housing plan…. All of the solutions being discussed were essentially aimed at solving the affordable housing of Bay Area cities and not that of Manteca.”
