ST. PAUL – Residents shared their perspectives on housing during an information session about the development of a regional housing strategy in the St. Paul region.
The regional housing strategy is a project to understand the housing situation in the region, conducted by ISL Engineering on behalf of the County of St. Paul, the Town of St. Paul, the Town of Elk Point, and the Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay.
The aim is to develop an action plan to help address housing challenges in the community.
One attendee, Nathan Rosychuk, said he attended the information session to have more understanding on the current housing situation in St. Paul, and acknowledged more affordable housing options are needed.
“Everywhere needs housing,” he said, suggesting more residential options are needed to help a community grow. “We've only had a few [houses] here built in the last few years, so we definitely need more.”
However, doing so is difficult, he acknowledged, especially ensuring housing initiatives work out financially and practically for all stakeholders, including potential buyers and builders.
Rosychuk expressed optimism about the community's investment in improving the housing situation, seeing the regional housing strategy as a positive move in the right direction.
Lyle Hovelkamp, a resident and also a realtor, provided his own perspectives on how to improve housing in the region.
He suggests exploring the feasibility of building homes based on the lifestyles of residents. There is demand for single-level homes for seniors, residents with mobility issues, and people who simply prefer having all their needs on a single floor, according to Hovelkamp.
“In the past, people don't always want the basement or need a full basement,” he said, offering an example.
He also suggested exploring community-building features in any new housing developments, such as shared green spaces or common areas where residents can gather to help foster a sense of community.
No matter the direction of housing developments, Hovelkamp said needs differ based on the life stages of families or individuals. This was a common sentiment among individuals Lakeland This Week spoke to during the event.
Some people spoke about affordability, and how despite working hard, housing affordability becomes a challenge as people already try keep up with rising costs like groceries.
Ensuring that any proposed solutions are not only affordable on paper but also realistic for those struggling to keep up was a sentiment shared by some people in attendance.
For those who missed the public engagement session, ISL is also conducting an online. survey as part of the project, which is open until Feb. 21.
