Housing
Park City's median housing price in 2022 was $2M (compared to Cottonwood Heights at approx $800k). Only 14% of Park City's workers can afford to live there. 8,800 workers commute into Park City from outside Summit County.* Boy, does that city council have their hands full?!!
Cottonwood Heights' housing and business dynamics differ, but, similarly, should we be preparing for our future now so that we have people at all income levels who can live and work in our city with "ownership" instead of only "rent"?
Unless our city takes deliberately zones and changes code to incentivize developers to build a higher portion of affordable condos & townhouses (currently only 10-15% which is negotiable) along transit, we'll lose the "human beauty" of an inclusive city that is enriched by residents of every walk of life, and the stability and strength they bring to our community.
I oppose the continuation of high density, high-end rental apartments. We already have a high inventory of these.
I favor mixed-use development strategically located from Hillside Plaza westward along Ft. Union Blvd.
CH surveys show residents want less traffic and more transportation alternatives including better, reliable transit and walkability (this includes continuous, safer bike lanes, more numerous & superior crosswalks, road re-design to slow motorists).
The financially unsustainable wide local, collector and arterials of the 20th century urban sprawl mentality needs to be replaced by thoughtful statute, zoning and codes for the 21st century. Lower VMT (vehicle miles traveled) which yields less traffic, less noise, heightened safety and cleaner air along with TOD (Transit Oriented Development) go hand in hand.
If we don't work at it deliberately, we will not have a society where people can work close to where they live. Likewise, ownership fosters higher level of community-minded citizens. According to the ULCT (Utah League of Cities and Towns), we need state and federal support in creating financial and other mechanisms that help citizens qualify and meet the demands of ownership. Ownership of a smaller, affordable condo or townhome is a tenant of the “American Dream” and a way forward for a person’s financial security and emotional well being. That means including a focus on housing based on 50-80% of median income. Think seniors on fixed incomes, Millennials, Generations Y, Z, and Alpha, our children and grand-children.
As always, I welcome your point of view, statistics, suggestions.
In community,
Ellen Birrell
Photo: An example of mixed-use development in Banff, Canada, which CH could consider for redevelopment along Fort Union Blvd from Hillside Plaza westward.
