Rural housing is a major issue around the Midwest and our region is no exception. The fact is that homes do not last forever; they fall off the market due to age, lack of amenities, and physical condition. Roughly one percent of homes will fall off the market each year for these reasons. In order to maintain the current population, assuming average individuals per home remains the same, we need to see an equivalent one percent of homes built each year, or ten percent every ten years.
In 2000, there were 600 homes in Ravenna. This indicates that 60 homes (10%) needed to be built by 2010. In 2010, there were 660 homes. These include single-family homes, duplexes, and apartment complexes. Because the population increased during this same time span, we can assume that the average number of people per household increased or that more people are living in group quarters, or both.
Let me be blunt. We are at a housing crossroads. The housing boom in Ravenna happened prior to 1939 making the majority of our housing stock over 70 years old. Constructing one percent of the housing stock between 2000 and 2010 allowed us to maintain our population. Because the majority of our homes are more than 70 years old, we know that a larger percentage is going to be falling off the market over the next 2-3 decades. Constructing one percent each year is not going to be enough to maintain our current population, let alone grow our community. Try 2%, maybe more.
The other challenge we face is the type of homes buyers find in Ravenna. We have a housing shortage of homes in the value range of $50k - $150k, which is the range most people are interested in purchasing. There are a handful of lots available for infill development as well as several uninhabitable homes that could be cleared and made ready for infill housing development. The City has done a good job of cleaning up some of the dilapidated properties in town. Demolishing these uninhabitable homes opens up lots for potential infill development and helps clear up a few of the eye-sores around the community. The homes that are removed must be replaced somewhere in the community in order to maintain a healthy housing market in and to provide homes for potential residents.
Homes follow jobs and vice versa. If more jobs are created in Ravenna, new housing and more home sales will follow. You as the voters, City Hall, and REDC have begun putting the pieces together in order to spur job creation. It is our goal to utilize the framework we are constructing to create local jobs over the next decade. Housing is a piece of this puzzle. If we want to attract young families, for example, we need a range of affordable housing, including rentals. Why wait for the jobs to pursue housing development? We have the jobs; just consider how many people commute to Ravenna for work and spend their paychecks back in their own communities. There have been no new homes constructed in Ravenna since 2010 and we must work to reverse this trend.
In 2000, there were 600 homes in Ravenna. This indicates that 60 homes (10%) needed to be built by 2010. In 2010, there were 660 homes. These include single-family homes, duplexes, and apartment complexes. Because the population increased during this same time span, we can assume that the average number of people per household increased or that more people are living in group quarters, or both.
Let me be blunt. We are at a housing crossroads. The housing boom in Ravenna happened prior to 1939 making the majority of our housing stock over 70 years old. Constructing one percent of the housing stock between 2000 and 2010 allowed us to maintain our population. Because the majority of our homes are more than 70 years old, we know that a larger percentage is going to be falling off the market over the next 2-3 decades. Constructing one percent each year is not going to be enough to maintain our current population, let alone grow our community. Try 2%, maybe more.
The other challenge we face is the type of homes buyers find in Ravenna. We have a housing shortage of homes in the value range of $50k - $150k, which is the range most people are interested in purchasing. There are a handful of lots available for infill development as well as several uninhabitable homes that could be cleared and made ready for infill housing development. The City has done a good job of cleaning up some of the dilapidated properties in town. Demolishing these uninhabitable homes opens up lots for potential infill development and helps clear up a few of the eye-sores around the community. The homes that are removed must be replaced somewhere in the community in order to maintain a healthy housing market in and to provide homes for potential residents.
Homes follow jobs and vice versa. If more jobs are created in Ravenna, new housing and more home sales will follow. You as the voters, City Hall, and REDC have begun putting the pieces together in order to spur job creation. It is our goal to utilize the framework we are constructing to create local jobs over the next decade. Housing is a piece of this puzzle. If we want to attract young families, for example, we need a range of affordable housing, including rentals. Why wait for the jobs to pursue housing development? We have the jobs; just consider how many people commute to Ravenna for work and spend their paychecks back in their own communities. There have been no new homes constructed in Ravenna since 2010 and we must work to reverse this trend.
RSS Feed