A housing study that was predisposed to negative conclusions
We reported yesterday that the draft housing study report presented to council at the December 6 study session was predisposed toward "doom and gloom" conclusions. This was because the study scope, as provided to the consultant by town staff, predisposed the conclusion that the Oro Valley housing stock was insufficient to accommodate future growth; and that Oro Valley housing was unaffordable. ... does have some important "jewels" buried in the details
The report, however, is not useless. In fact, according to Vice Mayor Barrett, there is a lot of good news in the study. Here are her remarks from the December council study session.
The jewels, as identified by Vice-Mayor Melanie Barrett, confirm that the town is well positioned to meet all State mandated requirements of the housing element of the 2026 general plan
"I made a list of like great news things that I found in buried in the details of the study:
- Our community has a lot of homeowners whose property values have increased. Their investments track with regional and national standards.
- Many people own and can afford to own their homes in Oro Valley; although homeownership has declined and rentals have increased, which could also be good.
- 62% of Oro Valley residents under 35 own their home, as compared to 39% in the nation. So a lot more younger people here own their home.
- We have enough housing currently zoned for our projected population growth and a lot of that is in high density residential.
- The condition of homes are high and citizens are satisfied with them, which set us up well for the state requirements, going into our general plan regarding conditions, and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities.
- We are very near many other areas that also have projected population growth. Our home values are relatively affordable compared to Phoenix, the State, and the area around it.
- If you look at that household income compared to housing cost, 88% of our citizens would not contemplate leaving Oro Valley. I think that that speaks highly of the quality of life that we have here.
- We’re on pace to meet all of our housing related legal requirements in our general plan.
- Oro Valley household income is outpacing the State, helping us to remain relatively affordable.
- Our stabilized vacancy rate in apartments is reported to be around 7%. This is above what would be considered a shortage which the study says would be 5%. So we don’t have a shortage at this time.
- Overcrowding is not an issue in our houses.
- Our labor force has grown.
- Our renters are less cost-burdened than state and national averages.
- - -
