In an encouraging sign for advocates of affordable housing, Arlington Heights trustees have acknowledged the need for low- to moderate-priced housing in the village and asked for more information about a proposed density bonus ordinance.
Members of the village Housing Commission presented a report to a Village Board committee of the whole, citing the lack of affordable housing in Arlington Heights and the high demand for federally assisted rental housing in the area.
“I thought we didn’t have a problem. I’m starting to think there may be a need,” said Trustee Thomas Stengren.
As for the density bonus ordinance, which would let builders exceed the maximum density for a given piece of land if they set aside half of the extra units for low- to moderate-income households, Stengren said, “I’m not sold on it totally, but I’m getting there.”
The Village Board directed the Housing Commission to do more research, fine-tune its proposal and return in October.
Under the proposed ordinance, tenants of the set-aside units would pay about 30 percent lower rent each month than those living in other units.
Members of the Planning and Community Development Department have opposed the density bonus ordinance. They said similar laws in Orlando and Ft. Collins, Colo., failed to produce more affordable housing.
“This ordinance has not been effective across the country,” said Nora Vogt, a village planner who specializes in housing issues.
“In this community, density is a strong consideration,” she said. “We don’t feel that offering additional density is an appropriate incentive for low- and moderate-income housing.”
Housing commissioners have spent several months compiling data that shows Arlington Heights does not have enough lower-cost housing.
“There is not enough affordable housing,” said Laura Powell, chairwoman of the Housing Commission. “Rents are difficult for people to make, especially people who are in the service industry–good, upstanding people we see every day who can’t afford to live in Arlington Heights because it’s so expensive.”
Advocates fear that young families and the elderly will soon be priced out of the Arlington Heights market, where average home prices are $210,000 and average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $865.
Under the proposed ordinance, a family of three earning $25,000 to $39,000 a year would be eligible for the new housing.
There are 882 units of low- and moderate-priced housing in Arlington Heights, according to Charles Witherington-Perkins, director of the Planning and Community Development department.
Witherington-Perkins, in a memo to the board, argued against the density-bonus ordinance, saying that Arlington Heights provides plenty of assistance for low- and moderate-income families through several programs, including one for first-time home buyers.
The village also encourages apartment-building owners to set aside low- and moderate-priced units through its multifamily rehabilitation program, he said.
Powell said commissioners also are floating several other housing ideas before the trustees. They want the trustees’ go-ahead to flesh out options for addressing other housing needs in Arlington Heights.
Some of the ideas include a daytime warming center for homeless people in the northwest suburbs; housing for moderate-income seniors; assisted living for the elderly; transitional housing for families in need; or an emergency shelter for homeless families, Powell said.
