All year long I have been referring to density, sprawl and population growth around Metro Atlanta and the I-575 Corridor. All of these issues affect Housing Affordability in our local real estate market. The Matrix recently reported how this problem is also a national issue. Read more here about The State of the Nation’s Housing as conducted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.
The Atlanta Neighborhood Devleopment Partnership, Inc. also has a report about housing affordability and the Mixed Income – Mixed Use approach to solving the problem. I have a permanent link to this study on the sidebar as Atlanta Affordability Report.
These reports are alarming and should be a leading indicator of what type of developments are needed for the future of our community. Density is not a bad word, if done properly, it actually creates affordable housing and a Better Community. Mixed Income and Mixed Use are also positive phrases, especially when you consider that 63% of jobs in Metro Atlanta pay under $40,000 a year. These jobs include vital citizens to our local community: teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and utility employees. “Despite their number, very little housing is being built for these families.” On average, working families in Metro Atlanta spend nearly 2/3 of their income on housing and transportation combined, well above the national average of 50 percent.
I encourage everyone to rethink density and affordability for the future of our local real estate market. If done properly and in the right places, green space can be preserved and traffic can be reduced!
