There is a significant demand for more housing in Green County — a point driven home by Troy Maggied, executive director of the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC) as he spoke to the county board last week.

The SWWRPC serves five counties — Green, Crawford, Grant, Iowa and Richland — adding a layer of support above what each county and municipalities in those counties get through their county economic development services, local chambers of commerce and other local economic support organizations.

The mission of the SWWRPC states it “collaborates with communities and organizations to build capacity within southwestern Wisconsin, serving as advocates for its residents. We create opportunities and develop dynamic solutions to the challenges facing the region. We foster growth by supporting innovative endeavors that provide tangible benefits to those we serve. We believe in the bold vision of southwestern Wisconsin and work to build the region’s future.”

“Housing concerns are part of the scope of our work,” Maggied said. “What housing do we have? What housing do we need? How do we get this housing?”

Maggied said a study of housing including Belleville, Brodhead, Monroe, Monticello and New Glarus pointed out some significant needs. It isn’t just that our area needs any type of housing — we need diverse housing people can afford. This includes single-couple townhouse housing, small family housing, individual homes for families, apartments and condominium properties.

Maggied said currently there is a $12,000 per-year gap between what people earn and what housing costs in Green County. There is a significant need for more affordable, modern housing.

This need isn’t going to evaporate. Maggied said our communities will need an additional 2,579 housing units between now and the year 2030. That’s like adding housing for 10,000-plus people.

The situation is further complicated when measuring housing costs vs. income growth. Over the last eight years the sale price of homes in our community have increased by 45 percent. Meanwhile, the income of county residents has increased only 8.2 percent, Maggied said.

Demographically, the future will have households that have fewer children. People ages 65-plus are becoming a larger part of the populace and they will stay in single-couple townhouses or apartments for 15-to-20-plus years.

Addressing these key concerns “is a pretty comprehensive mission,” Maggied said.

The best things municipalities can do to prepare for future housing growth is determine where such growth should occur in a community and make the job of housing developers easier. Maggied said Platteville has done a good job helping pave the way for development.

He said other communities have not yet addressed the obvious need for growth in the senior housing market.

Those ages 55 and older are less interested in lawn care, snow removal and caring for a traditional housing lot. Also, more mature citizens often don’t want to share the same living space as those 30 years younger than them. There is a need for housing for those 55 and older that includes a variety of different options — from simple single-bedroom dwellings to multiple-bedroom condominiums.

Monroe, for example, has no large-scale, diverse condominium development with housing cost options that appeal to a wide range of those on the socio-economic spectrum. The need for such a development is considerable. 

Housing needs in any community are diverse, however, developers obviously need to look at the costs the market is willing to bear and what the long-term return would be on housing investments.

The issue for housing needs isn’t just for those 55 and older, although that market is growing the fastest. There is a need for affordable apartments for young people and families. There’s a need for single family homes.

For any community to grow economically, it needs to have the proper amount of housing to allow for a workforce. The prices for that housing must mesh with the wages of the workers in the community. Work done by the SWWRPC and its partners is helping clearly identify problems that have existed for a number of years. Communities that prepare themselves for development will be successful in providing housing for all residents.

Our area needs more affordable, convenient, clean housing options. Without it, we will be unable to sustain the workforce necessary for economic growth and development.

— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.