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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us October 11, 2005 Housing commissioners looking for benefactors Land donations hold the key to future affordable housing, panel contends By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings As real estate prices continue to escalate in Southern Oregon, affordable housing remains at the top of Ashland’s political discourse. City Councilor Cate Hartzell reported to the Ashland Housing Commission on Monday evening that, in her mind, the council is ready and willing to take on the issue of creating more affordable and living-wage housing for Ashlanders. “The city council is behind this,” she said. “They understand the implications.” Housing Commissioner Liz Peck suggested that the Ashland Planning Commission, the body that would decide on the land-use issues surrounding new development or redevelopment for a potential affordable housing project, still needs to be sold on the notion. “I don’t know how to educate the planning commission,” she said. “How do we get the planning commission on the level with the council?” The housing commission, discussed ways in which it can bring new affordable housing projects to Ashland. They were joined by Darcy Strahan, from the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, who was there to educate the group on how it can get the state and other partnering agencies to help foot the bill. “There is not a lot of land available in Ashland, and unfortunately, that is one of the things needed to create affordable housing,” she said. “It takes some creative ideas to get the ball rolling. Has there been any kind of campaign to educate not only the council and the planning commission but also the public?” She suggested identifying landowners who could be interested in selling at market value and “encouraging” them to help with the housing needs. She also said that with the kind of wealth in Ashland, the city would do well to “find some wonderful benefactor who thinks affordable housing is really important.” Housing commissioners had ideas of their own. Brandon Goldman, the city’s affordable housing specialist, said there are, in fact, several lots in and around Ashland that could be purchased for a housing project. The site of the former Croman Mill, a 70-acre parcel on the southeast section of town, could be cleaned up, rezoned and used in part for an affordable housing project, he said. Hartzell added that it would cost approximately $1 million to clean up the waste on the site but that there could be federal money to help do so. There is a 15-acre parcel north of A Street that could also be used. And there are several lots near Interstate 5 and North Mountain Avenue in private ownership that could also be bought for this purpose. Shelley Austin, the executive director of the Ashland Community Land Trust, said Larry Medinger and Madeline Hill have offered 45 units of affordable housing if the city annexes their 9-acre parcel on North Mountain Avenue. They would like to build a total of 59 units on the land, making 75 percent of the development affordable. “There is an altruistic land owner willing to give land to the ACLT,” she said. “It’s a big hunk of land and he is willing to give it all. We just need to expand the urban growth boundary. It’s offered and it’s on the table.” Hartzell said the council looked at this proposition in 2003 but, she said, the planning director at the time argued against the annexation because of traffic concerns. The group also discussed the possibility of acquiring older apartment buildings that could otherwise be redeveloped into luxury condominiums or trailer parks. Austin said the city should start to hold a series of workshops on affordable housing. She said she has talked to Mayor John Morrison about the idea and he was “all over it.” Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x 3040 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Free Music Downloads Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks Online Casinos FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products best online casino teleconferencing High-End Gaming Computers Diamonds Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Discounted Website Hostings Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Myspace Layouts Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Student Loans Bonus Casino ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Canadian Pharmacy Casino Gambling Sites Backpacks Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams