Transcript Slide 1

Long Term Perspective for a Short Term World
The Tri-State Region
New York-New Jersey-Connecticut
• One of the World’s Largest Metropolitan Regions
• Twenty Million Residents and a nearly
$1 Trillion Economy
• A Global Center of Finance, Commerce,
Culture and Communications
The region is one of the
most diverse places in
America, encompassing
New York City and
hundreds of small and
mid-sized cities, suburbs
and rural communities.
Governance is divided
among three states, 31
counties, 800
municipalities and
hundreds of special
districts and
public
authorities.
Population
Brooklyn
2,465,326
Bergen
884,118
Essex
793,633
Hudson
608,975
Union
522,541
Typical County
510,916
Sullivan
73,966
Source: Census 2000
Source:
Census 2000
Median Income
Hunterdon
$79,888
Bergen
$65,241
Region
$56,100
Union
$55,339
Essex
$44,944
Hudson
$40,293
Bronx
$27,611
Source: Census 2000, Median Income 1999
Source:
Census 2000
Race
Hudson
Essex
7%
17%
4%
10%
46%
59%
43%
14%
7%Union
Bergen
11%
4%
3%
5%
21%
68%
81%
White
Black
Asian
Other
Source: “One Race” population from Census 2000 Redistricting Data. Please note: these numbers
do not represent total population. See final slide in handout for complete breakdown.
In 1996, RPA released its
Third Regional Plan,
A Region at Risk.
Quality
of Life
Economy
Five Campaigns from the
Third Regional Plan
Governance
Mobility
Workforce
Centers
Greensward
The plan called for:
a seamless 21st century
mass transit system,
creating a three-million
acre Greensward
network of protected
natural resource
systems,
maintaining half the
region’s employment in
urban centers, and
assisting minority and
immigrant communities
to fully participate in the
economic mainstream.
RPA in New Jersey
Highlands
Mayor’s Institute
Transit Oriented Development
Housing Goals
from RPA’s Third Regional Plan
Acceptable housing for all residents regardless
of race or income
Avoid housing excesses; build what is needed
and can be paid for
Integrate all housing markets
New housing goes in existing centers
Reduce the cost of least-cost housing
What is “affordable” housing?
Housing is affordable when monthly housing
costs (including utilities) are covered by 30% of
the occupants’ gross monthly income.
Special Needs Housing: disabled, elderly, single
mothers, homeless
Low-moderate income housing: 50% – 80%
area median income
Middle Class housing: 80% – 120% area median
income
Source: HUD
How much does a 3-person “low
income” family earn?
Warren
$31,100
Hudson
$38,300
Union
$45,200
Essex
$45,200
Bergen
$45,200
Fairfield
$47,900
Source: HUD 2001
When Affordable Housing is
Unattainable …
People spend more money than they should on
housing
Businesses are not competitive due to additional
labor costs, employee turnover, lost productivity
Overcrowding; low vacancy rates
Homelessness increases
Longer commutes
Concentrations of poverty and wealth
Exclusionary residential zoning
Housing Tenure
Homeowners
Renters
Hunterdon
84%
16%
Bergen
67%
33%
Union
62%
38%
Region
53%
47%
Essex
46%
54%
Hudson
31%
69%
Bronx
20%
80%
Source: Census 2000
Housing Cost Burden for Renters
Percent of renters who pay more than 35% of
their monthly income for rent
Ocean County
40%
Essex County
34%
Typical County
33%
Hudson County
31%
Bergen County
31%
Union County
31%
Dutchess
25%
Source: Census 2000
Source:
Census 2000
Housing Cost Burden for Owners
Percent of Homeowners who pay more than 35%
of their income in housing costs
Bronx
31%
Hudson
29%
Essex
24%
Bergen
23%
Region
22%
Union
21%
Litchfield
17%
Source: Census 2000
Source:
Census 2000
Source: Census 2000
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Le
Homeowners with High Housing Cost Burdens, by
Income Bracket
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Value of Owned Homes
Rank
County
Median Value
#1
New York
$361,100
#6
Bergen
$240,800
#15
Essex
$188,400
#17
Union
$185,200
#21
Hudson
$162,800
#31
Sullivan
$ 90,400
Source: Census 2000
Source:
Census 2000
Population with
Severe Housing Cost Burden
Bergen 73,417
Essex
71,387
Hudson 53,990
Union
41,179
Total in metro NJ
Total in Region
529,635
1,888,086
High Housing Cost Burden in the 31-County Region
2% 4%
Union 41,000
3%
4%
Essex 71,000
8%
Hudson 54,000
Bergen 73,000
Remainder of NJ*
142,000
79%
Remainder of Region
1,500,000
* For these purposes, New Jersey includes only the 14 counties in the
metropolitan region.
Source: Census 2000
NJ State Plan
“Provide Adequate
Housing at a
Reasonable Cost”
Balance
Residential and
Other Land Uses
Housing Types
Housing Tenures
Housing Costs
Approaching Solutions
from RPA’s Third Regional Plan
Plan for affordability
Use incentives to create low cost housing
Use direct subsidies for households
Increase the role of private, nonprofit and
community based organizations in planning,
building and managing housing
Plan for affordability
Create local and county fair share plans that go
beyond COAH requirements
Eliminate exclusionary zoning; make affordable
housing part of mixed-use development
Reduce excessive government regulation and
reviews
Creates more compact and diverse
neighborhoods, more open space can be
preserved, deconcentrates poverty and wealth
Use Incentives to
Create Low Cost Housing
Encourage linkage fees and other financial tools
enabled by the Fair Housing Act
Create Housing Trust Funds, Workforce
Housing, etc
Expand use of Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Creates opportunities for low cost housing in more
places, leverages public and private investment for
widespread economic development
Use Direct Subsidies for Households
Property and mortgage interest tax deductions
Section 8 vouchers, rental assistance programs,
rent control and stabilization
HOPE VI and other HUD programs
Subsidize operating costs
Directly reduces housing cost burden thereby
freeing income for the rest of the economy
Increase the Role of Private, Nonprofit and
Community Based Organizations
CDC’s are developers, advocates, service
providers
Intermediaries fill the gap
Employers can contribute expertise
Builds strong communities which are necessary to
mitigate the many social problems associated with
poverty
RPA’s Regional Housing Initiative
Why did some urban
neighborhoods
flourish in the 90’s
and not others?
How can we relate the
housing needs of
urban and suburban
areas?
How can the region
plan for the housing
needs of the future?