Affordable Housing Panel Discussion
On Saturday, December 7th, 2002 the Florida Community Design Center in association with the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a panel discussion on affordable housing in Alachua County entitled, "What Is Affordable Housing? It's Not What You Think!" Seven distinguished panelists expert in various housing activities regionally, statewide, and nationally participated on the panel as part of the continuing exhibit - "19 Flavors of Home." Approximately 40 people including local developers, realtors, advocates, students, professors, and residents attended the event sponsored by the McGurn Investment Company. Stan Fitterman of the Florida Housing Coalition, a leading non-profit technical advisor to local governments and advocate for affordable housing in Florida, moderated the discussion. Anne Williamson of the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing opened the session with an overview of the gap between available affordable housing in the Gainesville area and the need for such housing by persons such as secretaries, teachers, and firemen. William Wright of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development discussed the variety of programs the federal government uses to address housing needs while continuing to shift away from an emphasis on traditional public housing paradigms. Moderator Fitterman focused on the centerpiece of Florida's housing programs - the SHIP trust fund - supported by a coalition of local governments, realtors, and homebuilders and a central source of housing assistance throughout the state. Robert Koch of Fugleberg Koch Architects presented an engaging overview of the variety of detached single family, duplex, and quadreplex designs that can accommodate what he calls "workforce" housing needs. While discussing innovative approaches to designing homes for lower income, working households, Koch noted the barriers created by certain code requirements and zoning restrictions. Conducting community outreach and listening to resident feedback is essential in providing successful housing solutions. Patricia West, of Oasis Management and Consulting, who has been working locally with the Duval Front Porch community, emphasized this critical point in her presentation. The presentations concluded with Lisa Stephens of Davis Heritage, Ltd., who began by asking the audience to visualize a well-managed affordable rental complex. She then highlighted the low-income housing tax credit program that offers developers incentives to build these attractive rental communities to accommodate workforce households. Following the presentations, the audience engaged in a discussion with panel members regarding these concepts and their ideas about affordable housing in the Gainesville area. Report prepared by Professor Kristen Larsen.
