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March 2007
Regional Housing Data Center Pushes On
Nkosi accepts position to help rebuild NOLA
Loan offers hope for continued progress in Stone Mountain
Staff Spotlight: Zenovia Palmer
Making the Case: The Next Generation
MICI bids farewell to Myles Green Smith
ANDP publishes 2006 Annual Report
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Regional Housing Data
Center Pushes On
With 63% of the region’s jobs paying less than $40,000, and
one-third of households earning a total of $40,000 or less, the
problem of trying to attain affordable housing is becoming
increasingly difficult. Decision-making by those involved in policy
and community initiatives and other industries that affect
affordable housing must rely on accurate and sufficient data about
the current state of housing, in order to tackle the problem of a
lack of affordable housing close to job centers. Unfortunately there
has been a lack of pertinent, valid information; this is a void that
the Regional Housing Data Center is aiming to fill.
The Housing Data Center is a trilateral partnership among Atlanta
Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc. (ANDP), Atlanta Regional
Commission (ARC), Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA),
with support from Georgia State University. “The creation of a
Regional Housing Data Center was the number one recommendation given
by MICI,” noted Mixed Income Communities Initiative (MICI) Director
M. von Nkosi. He says, “In order to assess the scale of the housing
issue facing Metro Atlanta and determine a solution, access to
reliable, unbiased, and relevant information is imperative; this is
the first step.” Much progress has been made in implementation,
turning this suggestion into a reality. The primary goal is to get
the site up and running, so that relevant data will be accessible to
the public.
Housing Data Center partners intend to provide clarity to the
community and its partners about the housing issue, by making new
data and reports accessible. Recognition of the factors contributing
to the problem builds a foundation for solutions. Issues that will
be addressed include housing density and how an increase in the
units per acre and the revising of zoning laws can be mutually
beneficial.
The Housing Data Center will compile and analyze existing
information, seeking to fill gaps in data, as well as issue periodic
reports on progress or the lack thereof. An important addition and
new focus will be health and how it is entwined with the housing
issue in Metro Atlanta. The data will be disseminated through a web
site, providing access to raw data, specialized reports, and maps.
An interactive web interface that will allow developers, planners,
homeowners and buyers, elected officials, and advocates to create
custom maps using the data will be a central feature. The user will
be able to manipulate a variety of variables and see the outcome
based upon the input of data. From a homeowner trying to locate
affordable housing with ease, to a developer trying to find untapped
locations to build affordable housing, to the elected official that
determines zoning regulations, the interactive maps will aid in
meeting their needs. An example of the type of map that will be
found on the web site includes the availability of vacant and
underutilized land in comparison to the location of job centers.
Information will be collected from five metro counties and 23 job
centers.
An impressive feature of the web site will be a specialized annual
report card that assesses the region’s affordable housing by
municipality, and that community’s ability to address its housing
needs. Additionally a glossary of significant housing terms that
will aid the user in understanding concepts and fully grasp the
implications the various data and reports will give them will be
added to the website.
With the anticipated gain of more than 2 million residents to
Atlanta by 2030, according to ARC, we must begin now to prepare to
accommodate and adapt. All involved parties have agreed to aid in
securing pertinent data in a transparent and non-arbitrary manner.
This is the first step in assessing the region’s housing needs and
securing affordable housing.
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