A New Tune in West Bend

Initally after reading this article on the West Bend tax-credit housing proposal possily being rejected, I was planned to write a post titled "Haven't We Heard This Song Before?" but then I saw this.

West Bend's Mayor did what New Berlin's Mayor failed to do-stand firm in face of opposition and vote for affordable housing.  Kudos to her.

Something to keep in mind.  There were no firm offers on the property in five years. This is not Offer A vs Offer B.  This is Offer A vs No Offer.   Why is that so hard to understand?   A hamburger on the plate is better than a plate with no steak.


Update: D'oh! "West Berlin" corrected to "West Bend" in one paragraph.

Housing affordability worsening for low-income renters

The Center for Budget & Policy Priorities' blog, "Off the Charts" has a post on the worsening housing affordability for low-income renters. 

While home prices have fallen by nearly 30 percent since the market peaked in 2006, residential rents have merely leveled off over the past year and are actually 11 percent higher now than in 2006....

New Berlin Focus Group Meeting postponed

Tonight's (Sept 9) City Center Focus Group meeting for Aldermanic District 4 has been postponed.  No word on the reason.

The next scheduled meeting is for Aldermanic District 7 on Sept. 21.

Workforce Development Proposed in Racine

A developer has proposed a workforce housing development on a vacant lot near a closed Sam's Club (it moved).  The headline online is different than the headline of the paper copy, which was: 'Affordable housing' project proposed.  I got a chuckle out of that as I thought, "I see I'm not alone in thinking that tax-credit housing is not very affordable."

The first look at the plans was last night at the Racine Plan Commission meeting, and there will be a Public Hearing on Sept 14 at City Hall.

It'll be interesting to see if there's misplaced hysteria over this as there were in New Berlin and the City of Waukesha.