Government Affairs
2008 Election Candidates and Candidate Survey Responses back to main Candidate page
Candidate Survey Responses – On The Issues – Each Question, All Candidates
3. Outline your opinion of the Flagstaff housing market and what role you feel local government should play in attempting to influence that market. How specifically would you use local government to affect our housing market?
Mayor Joseph Donaldson
In my opinion, the city government can not influence the housing market as such. As I have been told by successful housing developers, the market is what any house is going to sell for in spite of incentives and regulations. The only way to decrease the cost of any house at the government level then is to effect those hard costs that are within the market price. Namely, two are the land costs and proving the home buyer up front cash assistance that reduces the market price to the buyer. The Community Land Trust removes he cost of the land on which the home is located, and cash subsidies to the buyer assists the buyer in qualifying for loans to purchase the home.
The Community Land Trust inventory can be increased by developers who work with the Council in addressing the housing shortage by contributing land to the land trust inventory. Builders know how to construct homes more affordably through various construction methods they use. Government can effect the housing market by working with both developers and builders to construct quality and affordable homes. We have many examples of just that cooperation.
Sara Presler-Hoefle
I propose the City
1. Invest in partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. Offering land for affordable housing is a good first step. The City should share the investment in the required infrastructure to make building these homes a reality. Using energy efficient materials and reducing red tape for planning costs are important.
2. An important component of affordable housing is a rental housing plan and policy. We may be able to generate modest revenue through the licensing of rental properties, and at the same time monitor landlord-tenant relationships. The Landlord Tenant Act provides some guidance, but we need a local approach to this emerging issue so that we can encourage people to rent in Flagstaff. With the apartment to condo conversion trend in Flagstaff, we have a significant need for rental housing. Also, a rent-to-own program might work in Flagstaff, and could be worth considering.
3. The land Trust is one tool to keep the cost of housing down in Flagstaff and I support this initiative. Through the use of a 99 year lease, the cost of land can be subtracted from the price of the home.
4. We must make a choice as a community as to design. I propose that we build up and in rather than single level and out. Single family homes are not the only option for affordable housing, but they are the most desirable. We know this because there are affordable units in condo conversion from down the street from my house and there remains a great supply of these units. It really breaks down to supply and demand, alongside a community education and choice that dictates community priorities.
5. The process to build affordable housing in Flagstaff has to be easier. There is quite a bit of red tape at the City and I would hope we could streamline the processes we use to make government more accountable, transparent, and accessible for taxpayers.
6. The City may be in a reasonable position to use CDBG dollars or other dollars to facilitate senior citizen affordable housing opportunities. There are also existing HUD programs. Yes, we will compete against other Arizona cities for these HUD dollars, but we should try to assist our seniors in obtaining affordable housing opportunities. People who work hard for their entire lives should be commended and receive our care. We should, as a government, create opportunities for those that work hard in our community.
Karla Brewster
Our housing market is overpriced due to market driven economics on second homes, the lack of land, the desirability of living in a mountain community that offers a lot and willingness of those who can afford to pay premium prices. Local government should be responsive to local needs, which, to me, means doing what they can to ameliorate the workforce housing situation and housing for professionals that live here or want to live here. Even though the city has the land trust program (which I endorse) which attempts to influence the market through taking the price of the land out of the mix, the market will still drive prices of homes not in this program and drive prices of designated affordable homes unless there are regulations put in place to keep those homes affordable. If Flagstaff becomes like an Aspen or Vail, we will have no middle class or service workers left in this town. Is that what the citizens want here?
Coral Evans
For those who have the money the Flagstaff housing marketing offers many different housing opportunities; however, the Flagstaff housing marketing proves to be impossible and out-of-reach for most first-time home-buyers and individuals with low to moderate incomes.
I believe that the City should work directly with the local contractors (and others in the building trades) in the development of any new programs, policies and/or regulations that will ultimately have an effect on housing. I believe that if such entities were at the table during the planning stages this would assist the City early on in identifying the impact that any new programs, policies and/or regulations will have on the overall idea of housing affordability.
Providing a sustainable solution to the housing crisis that the City is currently facing must be a collaborative effort and that effort must include partners from the private, non-profit and government sectors. As a City Council member I am looking forward to hearing and acting on what those working in the building trades and those who are currently running programs designed to provide affordable housing have to say about what would work best to address the current situation in our City.
Morgan Hagaman
The Flagstaff market is a little slow right now, but no where near as bad as other markets in our state. Most of the major mortgage companies consider Flagstaff to be in as good of market that there is right now. There are a lot of homes on the market right now, but houses are selling. Flagstaff is still a very desirable place to live and should always do well in the Real Estate market. Local government is very limited on what it can do to affect our housing market. Our real estate is market driven, and government has little if any control on that market. Some things government can do are keep the cost of starting a new home at a minimum and not to impose regulations that counter affordability. They can also keep working on making Flagstaff the desirable town that it is and the housing market will continue to do well.
John McCulloch
I can support adjustments to the Land development code that would specifically identify affordable Housing incentives. Smaller lot sizes with smaller houses would be one approach.
Micole Shorty
There is a huge chasm from second homeowners and first time homeowners and the government should take a two pronged approach: 1) support non-profit organizations that assist working families purchase a home. 2) facilitate cooperation between developers and these first time homeowner agencies.
Al White
The housing market is soft but prices have not fallen drastically. Experts are predicting a two year rebound. We can make the process of product development more consistent and predictable. We can implement a property management ordinance to keep values up. We can continue to fund both owner occupied rehab programs and down payment assist programs. We can develop partnerships with private and non profit developers to create entry level units with bonuses. We can put city owned land trust land out to bid for units both workforce and market to be built. |
