(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: As Sioux Falls grows, the need for housing grows with it. That, combined with rising home prices are making it increasingly challenging for folks in the city to attain homeownership. It can even be tricky to find an apartment. Here's what the five mayoral candidates had to say about their approach to addressing affordable housing needs in the community.
Here's what we asked:
What role do you think the city should play in helping provide affordable housing options for our fast-growing community?
Here's what the candidates had to say (in alphabetical order):
Joe Batcheller noted the complexity of the housing market – including factors out of the city's control like the broader financial market.
- That said, he sees ways the city can make its regulatory framework a bit more friendly to unique housing options like accessory dwelling units, duplex/tri-plex/four-plexes and other "missing middle" housing options for people who want something in-between a single family home and an apartment.
- He also said the city could explore whether or not to restrict private equity from owning so many homes for short-term rentals.
"There’s a lot of other things out there that could be done that we can dive into further, community land trusts and what have you," Batcheller said. "There’s just a lot of things that we can do that we haven't tried yet, and I just kinda think it takes some knowhow, some courage and leadership for us to bring it to the next level."
Christine Erickson noted that she bought her first house at age 24, but she doubts her 21-year-old son will be able to hit that same milestone. She also noted the importance of workforce housing and the rising costs of construction, home prices and interest rates.
"For the City of Sioux Falls, how can we make sure we’re issuing our building permits quickly and also making sure we’re not just passing more regulation because we think we need to do it?" Erickson said. "Let's make sure we’re passing (regulations) that makes sense. Maybe let's get rid of some of that, so we can get the housing market going faster."
Greg Jamison also advocated for "less red tape" and rezoning rules that could make it easier for developers rather than making things more restricted.
"Saying yes more than no, I think, is the answer," Jamison said. "Keeping costs as low as it can means the city’s regulations and rules just need to kinda keep that pressure down – that’s our best approach."
Jamie Smith said he's sat on the Affordable Housing Solutions board for years. The need is great, the waitlist is long, and he said he wants to see creativity in addressing these challenges.
"I’m a big advocate of building up where we can in providing housing," Smith said. "I think every time we look at a strip mall, imagine housing above that strip mall because there's square footage there that we can use. The infrastructure's already there."
David Zokaites said the core issue is that the people with money tend to also have political power, calling on a more representative government who can change laws and pave the way for more affordable housing.
- He also said affordable housing doesn't have to be subsidized.
"If you can put small houses on small lots and smash them together, all of a sudden, you've got housing costs way down, and we can build more of it," Zokaites said.
