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Why is the housing demand increasing?
More households
Due to a number of sociological factors, including a rising divorce rate, more people living alone and an increase in the number of single-parent families, the number of households in Northeast Ohio has continuously increased, even as population in some areas is decreasing. In fact, Northeast Ohio lost 2.7 percent of its population between 1980 and 1990, but grew 3.7% in the number of households. With population growing 1.8% since 1990, it can be expected that the number of households will increase even more rapidly next decade.
More Jobs, Better Economy
Along with a rise in the number of households, our region also has experienced a rise in the number of jobs available. While the population of Northeast Ohio has increased by nearly 60,000 since 1990, the number of jobs in the region has increased nearly 160,000 since then. The more jobs that are available, the more people can afford new homes and the greater the demand for housing.
What are our options for growing smarter?
First and foremost, we must realize that growth is inevitable. Limiting or stopping growth in one place only ricochets it to a neighboring community, often causing scattered development even farther away from the urban core. The only way to accommodate future growth is by accepting and planning for it, putting development in appropriate places.
Communities need to begin looking at their local planning and zoning decisions from a regional perspective. It is important for them to understand how their decisions affect the communities around them.
One way to make this happen is by appointing a regional board to design and implement a regional plan. However, with 452 governments in Northeast Ohio who all have a stake in the future development of their neighborhoods, we are a long way from agreeing on a regional plan.
The Smart Growth Education Foundation is taking the lead in helping local communities update their planning and zoning and in educating them on compact development patterns that can help them manage their growth.
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