NewGeography report finds that more Americans are moving to detached housing

Conventional wisdom, the national media, and planning professionals would have you believe that Americans are moving to attached housing (apartments and condominiums) in droves.  A report by NewGeography finds reality defies that conventional wisdom.

NewGeography analyzed the top 51 housing markets (over 1 million population) and compared Census data from 2000 and 2010.  The results of their findings include:

• Single-Family Detached housing attracted 79.2 percent of new households
• Multi-Family Attached housing attracted 11.8 percent of new households
• Two-Unit Attached housing attracted 11.3 percent of new households
• Other housing, like mobile homes and boats, declined by 2.3 percent

A total of 4 million new new single family homes were added in the 51 markets, while apartments and condominiums added 590,000 units and attached houses added 570,000 units.

Planners argue that condominiums tend to be more attractive in larger housing markets due to higher land costs.  However, planners and demographers do anticipate a slight shift in preference to attached housing in the coming decades as Generation Y enters the housing market.

Read the entire report at newgeography.com by clicking here.

Greenville County Council Gives Second Reading to Comprehensive Plan

Last night Greenville County Council voted unanimously to approve the 10-year Comprehensive Land Use Plan at second reading. The plan is required by state law and is not an ordinance, but instead it is a road map for future development.

Before second reading council amended the plan to clarify that the plan is not binding like law, and that unzoned areas are unaffected by the plan.

Council will take up the plan again for third and final reading on December 1, and could amend the plan further.

Many members of the Home Builders Association of Greenville participated in the development of the plan through citizen groups that met to consult on the plan's contents. In addition the County Planning Commission, which developed the plan, met last Spring with the Board of Directors and the Legislative Committee of the association to receive the association's input.