Governor Tina Kotek recently initiated the Oregon State-Owned or Managed Lands Inventory to tackle Oregon's housing affordability crisis. This fresh online tool provides public access to information on state-owned or leased properties that could be ripe for housing development. The database represents an actionable step from the recommendations of the Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC), which Kotek established early in her tenure as governor.
The overarching goal is to streamline the process developers go through to find land, thereby speeding up housing production. "When it comes to state owned or leased lands, I am turning over every rock to turn dirt faster for new housing," Governor Kotek said in a statement obtained by Oregon's official newsroom. "The more housing we can build, the more we can bring relief to Oregon families working to make ends meet." She noted that quicker land acquisition could help to ultimately reduce construction costs.
The tool was a top priority for the HPAC, born out of the need for new strategies to surmount Oregon's significant housing challenge. Joel Madsen, manager of the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) at the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), spoke to the urgency of innovating solutions. "Solving the housing crisis across our state requires new partnerships and creative answers," Madsen said. HAPO is now set to work closely with the development community and their fellow state agencies to make the most of public lands for housing solutions.
Since her first day in office, Kotek has taken actions that boldly attempt to rectify the longstanding shortfalls in housing. By July, projections show that efforts will see around 2,800 affordable housing units financed and the infrastructure for over 25,000 affordable and market-rate units will be underway. The governor's office has highlighted that nearly half of the HPAC's recommendations have either been implemented or are reflected in the budget recommendations for the upcoming years.
The implications of the Governor's push for accelerated housing production resonate beyond mere numbers. It's an attempt to directly respond to the cry of families weary from the weight of unaffordable living. With the Housing Accountability and Production Office's involvement and the sleek functionality of the new online lands inventory, Oregon is now steadily closing the gap between today's deficits and tomorrow's aspirations for a more accessible housing market. More details on the tool and its potential impact on housing can be found in Oregon's official newsroom.
