A new study will give city leaders and developers a fresh look at Aberdeen’s housing needs.
The city’s last housing study was in 2018. The one to be done this year is expected to provide:
- Updated demographic data and projections
- A household income analysis and housing costs
- Data about existing housing
- A rental survey, including occupancy and rental rates
- Employment and economic data
- Findings and recommendations
The Aberdeen City Council approved the study during its March 25 meeting, hiring Community Partners Research Inc. to do the job for $22,900. Work is expected to begin in mid-April and wrap up by the end of July.
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“This work will take into consideration recent changes (and) look at future housing development,” Ken Hubbart, community development director, told the council.
Community Partners Research has completed the last few housing studies for the city, he said.
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During the meeting, Aberdeen attorney Rod Tobin praised the city’s decision, noting that a market study recently had to be compiled to provide updated statistics for  housing infrastructure grants now available through the state.
“I applaud the city for doing this,” he said. “It’s much needed.”
The market study was necessary because the housing statistics for Aberdeen were beyond the three-to-five-year scope required to tap the grant money.
Aberdeen Development Corp. CEO Mike Bockorny said his office was able to quickly pull together the data needed for the grant applications.
“This was shorter than normal,” Bockorny said of the time needed to gather the housing market statistics.
Hubbart said that market analysis and the housing study are two different things.
Bockorny said it would be helpful to frequently refresh housing data and that some developers have already expressed interest in reviewing the study that will be done in the months to come.
Hubbart said the last housing study had development projections through 2023, so a new study is needed and important.
“The Aberdeen market is a great example of how the private market has responded with rentals,” Bockorny said.
Both Bockorny and Hubbart said the new study will provide an overview of where Aberdeen is at when it comes to meeting the need for rentals, multi-family homes, twin homes, triplexes and even housing designed specifically for those who are 55 and older.
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Hubbart said the last study showed a need for more tax-credit, subsidized and memory care housing, senior housing with services and options for senior citizens with lower incomes.
New housing has been added in town since that study, including apartments, senior housing and single-family homes. Rental properties have also seen changes in ownership and improvements.
Hubbart said the new study will include information from rental property owners.
“As part of the study, they’ll be contacting a large number of apartment owners and visiting with them,” he said.
Prior to 2017, the previous housing study was completed in 2010. Hubbart said that was an update to a study done in 2007.
He said that was needed because the 2007 study was finished just prior to a flood that significantly affected housing in town. Once planning and zoning activity settled following the flood, he said, city leaders realized they needed to reassess the market.