Peter Reichard: How communities can change the playbook to expand housing options

March 02, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Scanning the older cities of Utah (or indeed any state) you encounter in the historic core a mix of lot sizes and uses. You might see small setbacks and often find single-family homes alongside small multi-family housing. Often, these areas appear designed for pedestrian commuting, shopping and recreation. As you move away from the historic core into the suburbs, the old patterns dissolve into a new one: All of the residential lots are larger and … Continued

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Zoning laws in Utah prove to be major obstacle in push to address state’s affordable housing shortage

February 28, 2022 (Park Record) - A growing chorus of experts say middle housing, a class of multifamily housing options that falls between single-family homes and large apartment complexes, is a vital instrument in the fight against unaffordable housing. But middle housing has a big problem: Zoning in most residential areas doesn’t allow it, the Deseret News reported. That’s the big takeaway from a new report from the Utah Foundation, which challenges the wisdom of the prevailing 20th-century zoning practices that … Continued

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Need for affordable housing runs up against Utah zoning laws

February 26, 2022 (Town Lift) - A growing chorus of experts say middle housing, a class of multifamily housing options that falls between single-family homes and large apartment complexes, is a vital instrument in the fight against unaffordable housing. But middle housing has a big problem: Zoning in most residential areas doesn’t allow it, the Deseret News reported. That’s the big takeaway from a new report from the Utah Foundation, which challenges the wisdom of the prevailing 20th-century zoning practices that … Continued

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Need for Affordable Housing Runs up Against Utah Zoning Laws

February 26, 2022 (US News and World Report) - A growing chorus of experts say middle housing, a class of multifamily housing options that falls between single-family homes and large apartment complexes, is a vital instrument in the fight against unaffordable housing. That’s the big takeaway from a new report from the Utah Foundation, which challenges the wisdom of the prevailing 20th-century zoning practices that separate commercial and residential areas while catering to automobile-oriented development, making the case that zoning laws, predominantly under the … Continued

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Opinion: Utah has strong families, but warning signs loom

February 24, 2022 (Deseret News) - Confucius may have put it most succinctly in observing that “the strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” Family is the basic building block of society. To the extent that families are stable, the larger civilization benefits from greater social stability. To the extent that family connections are strong, the members of that family will tend to enjoy stronger social capital and related socioeconomic benefits. Strong family health is inextricably linked … Continued

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When the need for affordable housing runs up against zoning laws

February 22, 2022 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — A growing chorus of experts say middle housing, a class of multifamily housing options that falls between single-family homes and large apartment complexes, is a vital instrument in the fight against unaffordable housing. But middle housing has a big problem: Zoning in most residential areas doesn’t allow it. That’s the big takeaway from a new report from the Utah Foundation, which challenges the wisdom of the prevailing 20th-century zoning practices that … Continued

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When the need for affordable housing runs up against zoning laws

February 21, 2022 (Deseret News) - A growing chorus of experts say middle housing, a class of multifamily housing options that falls between single-family homes and large apartment complexes, is a vital instrument in the fight against unaffordable housing. But middle housing has a big problem: Zoning in most residential areas doesn’t allow it. That’s the big takeaway from a new report from the Utah Foundation, which challenges the wisdom of the prevailing 20th-century zoning practices that separate commercial and residential … Continued

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Utah is in a housing crunch.

February 18, 2022 (KUER) - Utah is in a housing crunch. One priority state legislative leaders laid out at the beginning of the 2022 general session was affordable housing. Now, they’ve got a few things in play to address that. KUER politics reporter and State Street co-host Emily Means joined host Caroline Ballard to go through what’s on the table for affordable housing. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Caroline Ballard: I know people who are looking … Continued

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New family life report: Utah leads on structure, but warning signs shadow home life

February 16, 2022 (Utah Policy) - Today, the Utah Foundation releases the fourth report in its Utah Social Capital Series with The Comforts of Home: Family Life in Utah. This installment focuses on family; the previous installments focused on civic engagement, social trust and community life. The Comforts of Home presents data and analysis on seven metrics: the share of adults aged 35 to 64 currently married; share of births to married women; the share of children living in a single-parent family; the share … Continued

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Peter Reichard: Can Utah bring in new housing types without ruffling feathers?

January 27, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Those struggling to get developments done often use the acronym NIMBY – not in my backyard – to describe opponents of their plans. While it may serve as a useful shorthand for neighborhood opposition to projects for the common good, in many cases it may also be unfair. Most Americans’ wealth is tied up in their home, a home that they often choose because of the quality of life the neighborhood offers. To routinely throw … Continued

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Utahns Overwhelmingly Prefer Single Family Homes Says a New Report

January 18, 2022 (NewsBreak) - According to a recent analysis from the Utah Foundation, an independent research organization, 72 percent of respondents said that “style is the most significant element in their home choices.” What’s that look like? You’ve guessed it, single-family detached dwellings. According to the foundation report, 45,000 people in Utah are missing out on the country’s hottest housing market because of rising costs caused by the redevelopment of old properties. Despite the obviousness of this, the report … Continued

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How do you make middle housing more appealing in Utah? Make it look like a single-family home

January 17, 2022 (KSL.com) - When it comes to middle housing, you’ve got to have style. A recent report from the Utah Foundation, an independent research group, shows that 72% of respondents say “style is the most important factor in their housing preferences.” And the style is? You guessed it, single-family detached units, extra points if the garage is not visible. While Utahns’ preference for single-family homes seems like a statement of the obvious, the report also fleshes out a … Continued

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How do you make middle housing more appealing? Make it look like a single-family home

January 17, 2022 (Deseret News) - When it comes to middle housing, you’ve got to have style. So says the latest report from the Utah Foundation, an independent research group, that shows in new surveys that 72% of respondents say “style is the most important factor in their housing preferences.” And the style is? You guessed it, single-family detached units, extra points if the garage is not visible. While Utahns’ preference for single-family homes seems like a statement of the obvious, … Continued

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Opinion: 5 things Utah lawmakers have done well through the years

January 16, 2022 (Deseret News) - … Legislative appropriations — Congress and most states have appropriations committees that make spending decisions. A few people work out the details of the budgets and decide which programs get funded. Spending plans are finalized with only a few details debated; there’s just not enough time to go through them line-by-line. In Utah, though, every member of the House and the Senate sits on one of seven joint appropriations subcommittees. Each of them is given … Continued

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The Utah Foundation talks “middle housing” on Fox 13

January 11, 2022 (Fox 13) - Shawn Teigen spoke with Keith Chalmers from the Fox 13 News Assignment Desk about small multi-family housing development. The discussion focused on development history, development preferences, and the transition to townhomes — not all of which have the walkability that “Missing Middle Housing” envisions.

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“Middle housing” could solve Utah’s housing crisis

January 11, 2022 (KUER) - According to a recent study released by the Utah Foundation, middle-sized, multi-family houses like townhomes could help solve Utah’s housing problem. The foundation’s president said it’s critical to widen avenues to entry-level ownership, but the costs of houses and rents are skyrocketing in the state. The report shows that “middle housing” could be the answer. The median price of a townhome is about 29% lower than the cost of a single-family home. So the foundation … Continued

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Tell us your thoughts: Is Utah one happy family, or two warring states divided by faith?

December 29, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - “All in all,” declares a recent report by the Utah Foundation, “Utah performs impressively on the measures of participation in community life.” Those measures — ranging from charitable giving and church attendance to volunteerism and neighborhood participation — have been used for years to gauge the health of American democracy. The report draws on the work of distinguished Harvard professor Robert Putnam, and The Salt Lake Tribune decided to speak with Putnam and Utah native … Continued

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Utah’s housing crisis: Could an answer be in your backyard?

December 27, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - For Tessa and her one-year-old daughter, the rental market may be the only lottery going in Utah. As a single parent working a full-time job, Tessa has little spare time. For the last month, that time has been spent hunting for a modest two-bedroom rental in Salt Lake City. “It’s been challenging to say the least,” said Tessa, who requested we only use her first name out of fear it would hinder her from getting … Continued

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Opinion: Utahns score well on the ‘art of association,’ except in this category

December 20, 2022 (Deseret News) - Going back to Alexis de Tocqueville’s monumental study of the American character in the 1830s, the U.S. has been known for what the Frenchman called our “art” of association. He noted not only “commercial and industrial associations in which all take part,” but also that Americans participate in groups that are “religious, moral, grave, futile, very general and very particular, immense and very small.” But those studying the American art of association find that it … Continued

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Peter Reichard: Utah’s housing numbers draw a double-take

December 16, 2021 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Astonishing. Jaw-dropping. Mind-blowing. When it comes to housing price increases in Utah, the exclamations could just keep flowing. The cost of housing in Utah has been skyrocketing. Median home prices increased by 15.4% in 2020 and even further in 2021 – with a year-over-year appreciation of 29% at September. Yes: 29%. That’s not a typo. And Utahns have noticed. Recent Utah Foundation research reveals that more than 80% of Utahns perceive home prices and rents … Continued

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Study: Utahns rank among most generous states in the country

December 15, 2021 (ABC4) - UTAH (ABC4) – As the holiday season is in full swing, the season of giving typically comes hand in hand. For Utahns though, it looks like that idea stays year-round according to a new study. A report by the Utah Foundation tracking social charity in Utah shows the state consistently ranks among the top in the country when it comes to charitable deeds. The report, The Art of Association: Community Life in Utah, aims to … Continued

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Art Turner to become new Utah Foundation Chair

December 13, 2021 (UtahPolicy.com) - Today, the Utah Foundation announces its new board leadership for 2022. Current Chair Chad Westover, CEO of University of Utah Health Plans, has completed his term and will remain on the Executive Board as Immediate Past Chair. Vice Chair Dan Eldredge is retiring from his position as General Manager with the Intermountain Power Agency and is departing Utah Foundation’s board. The new officers are: Art Turner, Vice President/Gen. Manager of Enterprise Holdings, will serve as … Continued

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