The Importance of Affordably Priced Homes: New Video & Case Study
Posted May 24, 2023
Chester County consistently has one of the highest median housing costs in the state. In fact, just last year the median price hit a record-breaking high of $466,000 — almost $100,000 more than a few years prior. These high prices are causing strains on household budgets across the county.
The county's A+ Homes Initiative strives to tackle these housing issues by creating homes that meet the needs of everyone. This includes being affordably priced, as well as attractive, adaptable, aging-friendly, and accessible.
CCPC recently addressed the importance of affordably priced homes with Crystal Boggs-Jennings and her son, A.J. Jennings, who reside at the Cambria Terrace Habitat for Humanity community in Coatesville. Check out the video to hear Crystal's thoughts on affordable housing for families.
Additionally, CCPC released a new Case Study on the affordably priced rental community in West Chester Borough, Pinckney Hill Commons. This project showcases the importance of partnerships and local considerations for affordable housing projects in one of the county's urban centers. The study states:
"Church Housing Corp. worked in partnership with the Borough for the development of a zoning amendment to permit its construction as a unified mixed-use development. Its location on the campus of the Melton Center affords residents of Pinckney Hill access to its amenities and programming. Further, its location adjacent to the center of the Borough and along a SEPTA bus route provides residents easy access to jobs, retail, social, and health services. The need for housing of this type is clear from the waiting list of more than 720 families as of March 2023."
So — what can you do to help? Municipalities can encourage the creation of affordably priced homes through adopted policies and ordinances. The county is also conducting a new Starter Home Pilot Project initiative for 2023-2024 to address the need for a greater supply of housing for households earning between 60% to 120% Area Median Income (AMI). If interested, please contact Libby Horwitz, Senior Housing & Economic Planner, at eObfuscationhorwitz@Obfuscationchesco.org by July 31, 2023.
Learn more about housing in Chester County.