Your Opinion: Critical housing needs in Jefferson City

Steve Lightner

Jefferson City

President of the Missouri Apartment Association; chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, National Apartment Association

Dear Editor:

The City Council voted Monday evening to reject the proposed construction of two duplex apartments on Sherman’s Hollow. The objection to the project was that it would hurt the property values of the neighboring luxury condo apartments. The rejected plans were designed to provide handicap accessibility, with wider door openings, walk-in shower stalls, and the elimination of steps. The demand from the Baby Boomer generation for housing to allow them to age in place has become critical. These duplexes would have met that demand. No government subsidized funds were involved.

The National Multifamily Housing Council has estimated that there is a need for 41,000 new apartment households in Missouri by the year 2030. Without new developments, individuals and families are even now forced to live in substandard housing and extended stay motels. According to the Federal Reserve in Kansas City, “Fewer homes are being built per household today than almost any time in history.” This is due in part to the doubling of land and construction costs since 2008. Across the country, the current shortfall in planned construction vs. demand is 400,000 units. The Wall Street Journal writes, “What makes the slump puzzling is that by most other measures, the American economy is booming. Jobs are plentiful, wages are on the rise and the stock market is near record highs. Millennials, the largest generation since the Baby Boomers, are aging into home ownership.”

Not everyone can afford home ownership or qualify for government assistance. Not everyone wants to the responsibility or demands of home ownership. People who need rental housing might include the police officer or firefighter whose spouse is a stay-at-home parent, the single parent who waited on you at lunch, or the teacher who is making sure your kids learn the skills they need to be successful.

The stereotypes about rental housing is undeserved. New apartments are well-designed, attractive, built at appropriate densities, and fit with the character of the surrounding community. They help meet a critical housing need. It is unfortunate that we cannot eliminate NIMBY-ism (Not In My Back Yard) in our city. I encourage our elected leaders to recognize the need for housing in our community.