Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian

A group assigned to help the Elk City Commission fix a lack of affordable housing has largely finished its work.

In a meeting this week, members of the housing committee met for the last time before chairman Bob Redaelli presents their recommendations to the commission.

The next meeting of the commission is Monday, Feb. 6. At that meeting, Redaelli is expected to urge the commissioners to conduct a professional housing assessment that will look at every aspect of the issue.

"I would be reluctant to enforce a housing committee's assessment that really amounts to nothing more than an inquiry process that we've had in this committee meeting, and certain assumptions we've all made that are predicated on our brainpower and our ability to assess things," he said.

The formal study would take about four weeks, Redaelli said.

SUGGESTIONS

Redaelli, reading from an initial draft copy of the committee's report, said that the commission should clearly define in a resolution what it is willing to do - a commitment of a dollar amount or support.

The city could also set aside that dollar amount to try to encourage developers to build. One of those incentives could be a tax rebate or creation of another Tax Increment Finance District.

A regular and consistent reach-out program should be part of an economic development plan, said Redaelli.

"My belief is if that were to occur on a regular basis, there may be more [developers] in town," he said. "But to sit and wait for them to come, that's a mistake."

BUILDER

An Oklahoma City homebuilder attended Monday's meeting of the committee that is looking at the housing issue. David Steed has experience building in a town with a lack of affordable homes.

"I also have a partner in Durant (Okla.) and we saw this same thing 10 years ago," he said. "Durant had a serious housing shortage. They were growing and people were living in motels and travel trailers."

A similar thing is occurring in Elk City. When an apartment or modest house is not available, companies have put their employees up in a hotel or motel.

"I obviously had an interest in possibly coming down here and building," Steed told the committee.

In Durant, Steed built small, single-family homes.

OVERLOAD

Elk City Commissioner Dan Gambill told the committee that someone approached him with questions about a possible project, but had concerns about the city's rule on the number of mobile homes in a park.

"I would be a little bit worried about somebody who put a bunch of mobile homes in somewhere and they got run down," said Gambill. "If someone really wanted to live in them and own them, and that be their home, that would be one thing."

Redaelli replied later in the meeting that a discussion on zoning is premature.

"Why do I say that? I fear improving the housing problem but creating an aesthetic problem," he said. "Get this study done, and hope that the [developers] of the world see enough value in developing here that they don't need to wait for the city commission to tell them they're going to give them free permits."

A professional housing assessment is likely, and would help the city find out how many and what type of homes are needed.

"Whatever avenues the city considers, moderation is paramount. Though we feel there is an immediate need for housing, a few developments could satisfy today's problem," said Redaelli. "To obligate the city too aggressively in terms of time or dollars, could promote over-building. This would be a mistake."

FIRST STEPS

For Steed, who is currently just one developer taking a look at building in Elk City, there are a few issues that need to be worked out.

For one, there may not be enough skilled workers already living here.

"It depends on what's available," said Steed, noting that what they are charging could influence whether he hires locally or shuttles workers from another city.

Redaelli asked Steed what he would need to get started immediately.

"You need to do the study you talked about. The study is important," Steed replied. "I can tell you that from driving around town, I see very few 'for sale' signs. That's a good sign."

He also said that one factor in starting an Elk City project would depend on where the city's population growth is coming from.

"I want to commit and start putting together a program to build 30, 40, 60 houses. I'd love to. But I don't want to do it if I think in two years it's all going to bust," he said. "So in addition to the current needs, I want to see what the future needs are. You're talking about putting out a substantial amount of money, no matter what the incentive program is. At this point, everybody think's there's a huge need, but what's a huge need? Forty houses or 400 houses?"