Wisconsin officials, architect and developer discuss how to slim affordable housing construction costs

• Wisconsin needs 227,000 new housing units by 2030 to meet demand, according to Forward Analytics
  
  
• Construction costs rose 43% from January 2020 to April 2022, BLS reported
  
  
• Panelists called for building code reform to lower development costs

A panel with different building industry officials on Monday met in Racine to discuss how to produce more affordable housing. With the nation facing a housing deficit for both affordable and market rate projects, the group discussed how to work together and lower the cost of construction and planning.

Monday’s panel included Dan Hereth, secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Elmer Moore, Jr., CEO of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Jason Korb, principal of Korb Architecture and Josh Jeffers, owner and founder of J. Jeffers & Co.

Panelists spoke at the Arabella Apartments Atrium at Belle City Square, a Jeffers adaptive reuse project at 2100 Northwestern Ave. The event was part of DSPS’ Affordable Housing Week Tour, which included stops in Milwaukee, Madison and La Crosse.

Wisconsin needed 227,000 housing units by 2030 to keep up with demand, a study by Forward Analytics showed. The state had only 33 affordable properties for every 100 people, a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition showed.

WI leaders discuss ways to combat affordable housing crisis (no paywall)

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Ken Notes: So glad to see this conversation. It will take public private partnerships, deferred development / Infrastructure costs, modular construction, adaptive reuse, zoning changes, infill, planed neighborhoods, and more. But starting the conversation is a great start!