Construction has begun on a unique community designed by architect Ross Chapin, a leader in the cottage development movement. Three blocks from the center of town these new homes will have both river and mountain views. You can see photos of the houses being planned at their website:
http://www.smartdevelopment.com/thebuilding_wyers.cfm
the site plan of the development is at:
http://www.smartdevelopment.com/wyers_siteplan.cfm
http://www.smartdevelopment.com/thebuilding_wyers.cfm
the site plan of the development is at:
http://www.smartdevelopment.com/wyers_siteplan.cfm
6 comments:
I heard the other night at the town hall meeting that this development was passed as a BRAND NEW "Cottage Zone", and was also granted a bunch of variances, including extremely narrow streets. So the city can create all sorts of zones. Has anyone seen the zoning? Is this what's going to go in where the other 2 trailer parks have been sold? Was there public discussion on the zoning? I must have been out of the loop on this one. How much did the city spend to work on this? Why has 'summer' posted this? Is he in favor of it or what?
Summer probably posted it is an interest to the community. If variances were granted, they couldn't have any more narrow streets than they had as a mobile home park - that's for sure. I do believe this was a new zone - kind of like the new townhome ordinance. I hope these units will be affordable for residents of White Salmon- not just weekend places for out-of-towners.
The bungalow style cottages look charming and the narrow roads seem very neighborhood friendly. And it fits in with the growing demand for higher priced housing in the city including the part-time vacation home market. But what are the city's plans for the relocation of lower income housing for the displaced folk, as former trailer parks are removed to allow for the development of higher priced homes?
And I don't see prices. Does anyone have price range info? What kind of income level would be needed for this type of housing?
John Mayo Said:
To clear the air on this:
There were no variances granted as far as I know. The Planned Unit Development zone allows for some flexibility in placement, lot size and layout. It is a much better option than townhomes and creates a much more livable environment then a wall of garage doors and driveways.
As for affordability, that is beyond the scope of what the city does at this point. The market does as the market does. The land prices are such that no developer can build affordable housing unless it is through a funded charity like HOPE or the town creates a housing authority.
The fewer homes for sale and the more buyer equals higher prices.
We live in a free country and let people live where they wish and do with their property as they wish within zoning codes.
At some point the prices will recede as the buyers needs are met and/or the demand falls.
We have a wide variety of house types in the city. It is amazing to me that some of the older and more run-down homes are (were) getting 230k+. Hopefully with the new developments around town the buyers coming in with alot of money will buy something new and the price of the older homes will settle back down to where regular people can buy them again.
The WORST case senario is wealthy people buying lower end housing just to tear down or renovate it into a mcmansions.
the fact that the trailer park was taken out was too bad but the economics of trailer parks is a tough thing. Most trailer parks where built during a twenty year window. They are almost all old and falling apart at this point and the economics of them does not allow for renovation. Also most of the trailers are privately owned in these parks and that makes it difficult for the landlord to prevent the downward slide.
Some people hate both the high prices and the increased density. Sorry, but the demand to live here is such that lower density equals high prices unless you can create some more land in the city somehow. The best way to get prices down is to increase the inventory of houses that are available. In that way the new developments are doing their part.
As for the relocation of the trailer park residents, RCWs do provide a year of notice for trailer park use changes to let residents find a place. The city did help to get multi-ligual representatives of charities from around the region into the park to provide answers to questions and to provide some moving resources. We all would like to do more, but what could the city have done beyond that?
thanks for the dialog.
John
The Planned Unit Development that John Mayo speaks of is indeed a new zoning. I do agree that it is a much better option than townhomes. John, along with the City Council, should be exploring the issue of affordable homes. I know his time is limited and he gives a lot of it already to the city, but how about appointing a board for exploring options for Affordable Homes?? Would there be grants available from some government entity for the purchase of property for a city managed owner-occupied mobile home park?
John Mayo:
I think that the best low income housing option is managed rentals like Rhine Village. Owner occupied would be nice but it is difficult to stop people from selling their place at a profit and having the values once again go out of reach. Also, I imagine that a big portion of the low income people we are talking about are not in the position to buy a house for a number of reasons.
I am not an expert on these things however and someone who knows more might easily prove me wrong and I would be happy to be corrected.
It seems to me that the trailer park model will put us back in the same position in 15 to 20 years; a rundown mess that needs massive infrastructure renovation and general renewal. Trailers are not good investments for anyone over the long term.
There is a need for simple and nice rentals.
There is also an "accessory use" regulation that the land use steering committee is looking at which allows people to legally rent out part of their property, such as a garage apartment, if such structures meet code. A lot of cities have done this and it provides alot of low cost housing in the existing city. It doesnt really meet the need of low income families as most of the units would probably be small apartments but it is a tool that would help house people that might end up moving to another community without it.
As for the Affordable housing committee. We have several groups in the community that are working on this. I have asked to be invited to their meetings and I havent heard back. Maybe the case is that they havent met for a while.
Squeeky wheel why don't you get involved with this? We need people to get involved in these issues at a level that makes a difference!
Thanks for the dialog and concern for this important and complicated topic.
John
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