How much does it cost to do a housing study in Warren County?

Eight proposals have come in, mostly costing $80,000 to $90,000, but some significantly more. The proposals are being reviewed by county officials with a 100 point rubric rating each proposal to make sure the proposal matches the needs outlined by the county. This rating will be done by the Planning Department, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, Warren Worx, and the Warren County Housing Authority, along with other local groups.

This Housing Needs and Needs Analysis has been recommended to both the city and county in recent years, according to Dan Glotz, Warren County commissioner. It was included in the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, which stressed the need for officials to “understand the county’s housing market and factors affecting availability, suitability and condition of affordable housing. The plan should contain an analysis of existing trends and expected future demand as well as a detailed action plan that will increase the possibility of all renters and owners to have access to affordable housing options throughout Warren County.”

According to the request for proposals, “The quality of Warren County’s housing stock has been a point of discussion in recent years but the concerns raised have been largely anecdotal, such as a lack of affordable “move-in ready” properties as well as significant increases in rent rates. The county would like to identify what the barriers are that have led to the local housing market appearing to not meet current needs.”

This is the first time a study like this has been done in the county, according to Glotz. It will address community needs and help townships work with developers to bring in components missing in communities that may make housing more viable. Many grants require a housing study to provide evidence of need before a city or township can apply for them.

Local leaders and development officials are concerned that steps taken to meet today’s needs and demands contribute to the long-term sustainability and quality of the local housing market, rather than becoming blighted and unsustainable at some point in the future, according to the plan request.

The study will address how much housing is needed in the area, including short and long-term housing needs at various price points, unmet housing needs, does the cost of undeveloped land hinder development, and how Warren County compares to similar counties. The plan will also assess availability of homes for first time home buyers and what first time homebuyers are looking for in a home and neighborhood, availability of homes for seniors, and an analysis of the prevalence of out-of-area property owners, specifically absentee landlords.

Part of the study includes strategies and recommendations to improve housing in the county. These strategies could range from suggestions on the housing that is needed and what amenities are needed in a community to changing regulations and looking at best practices that are successful in other communities.

The county is currently rating the proposals, but the study will take nine months to a year to complete once the contract is awarded. Warren County has 884 square miles of land, and the study will investigate the housing throughout.