leelanau housing collaborative

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Attainable housing: another view from Leelanau’s porch

In the July 30 issue of the Glen Arbor Sun, Cameron Krepps wrote a thoughtful and heartfelt lament about the lack of affordable housing for hard-working young trades people like him who grew up locally, work here to support themselves and their families, but who cannot afford to rent or own a home in Leelanau County. Cameron identified the problem, but he failed to suggest a solution. The local volunteers that makeup the Sleeping Bear Gateways Council believe that solutions do exist and that working together as a community we can provide local housing for people like Cameron, writes Jon Lanphier, President-elect of the Sleeping Bear Gateways Council in this op-ed for the Sun.                                                                                                            

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Looking up the coast for clues to solve the housing riddle

The region’s need for housing has been well documented. That’s particularly true for homes priced for sale between $150,000 and $300,000, as well as long-term rentals commensurate with that price. In Leelanau County, with a median price of $640,000 and an average price of $937,506, the challenge is acute. Perhaps part of the answer lies in looking north. Emmet County’s housing market mirrors that of Leelanau in many ways. It is a popular resort and vacation area with a number of high-end second and vacation homes. In trying to get arms around the problem, the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation undertook a survey of county businesses, which concluded the number one barrier to doing business is the lack of workforce housing. Now the Leelanau County Housing Collaborative, an arm of the LPEF, is asking workers, employers, and other community members to take part in the Leelanau County Attainable Housing Survey. The survey is designed to gather public input on housing needs and community priorities to help inform future housing solutions across the county.

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