The city is working on a permit that would allow development of subdivided land in Switzer Creek and Pederson Hill areas.
Juneau’s City State Project 2012 0015 allows the city to use CIP funds to improve for subdivision and sale of residential property at Pederson Hill and Switzer Creek areas.
The combined areas could supply land for up to 250 residential units. Two sites can accommodate 100 units without need of additional road access. Another is slated for 50 units.
Market rate sales of the subdivided city land would help fund affordable housing.
“It is not affordable housing at the exclusion of market rate housing,” said Heather Marlow, CBJ lands and resource manager.
Marlow said Juneau’s housing market could easily absorb the expected gain in housing as a result of the proposal. “Juneau has pent-up demand,” she said. “Wait lists for housing can be 200 to 300 people long.”
CBJ would have to “bring hundreds of housing units online to start to change housing prices,” Marlow said. She presented staff findings to the Planning Commission Committee of the Whole Tuesday afternoon. The commission will hear the permit proposal with public comment at a subsequent meeting.
CBJ staff recommended development of the Pederson Hill area near Auke Lake. Commissioners Nathan Bishop and Michael Satre expresses some concern that in the past the city had considered to start development first in the Switzer Creek area.
Switzer has three sections of potential development. The city selected area three, Switzer’s largest area, to subdivide first. Access to area three is up Mountain Avenue. The project includes improvements to Mountain Avenue.
Pederson Hill would be accessed by Wild Meadow Lane. To complete the project the city will have to do a land exchange with the University of Alaska Southeast, Marlow said. The city’s preferred access is at the Lutheran church.
Future development at Pederson could progress up the hill and around the south side of Auke Lake.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (20)
Add commentDon't Ponder
Just do it !!!
why not both
no wonder the CBJ has an affordable housing problem, the primary land owner is only now pondering while there has been a problem for a decade.
Property
There is also a desperate need for industrial property. I know of scores of small business' looking for a location.
at what cost to taxpayer?
Let's get the ture skinny on this before we jump on housing for all. All well & good to say they (imporvements) can be made thru the CIP funds but what improvements are needed & at what cost?
& sorry but Heather states it would take hundereds of houses to impact current market values, but the quotes is..."The combined areas could supply land for up to 250 residential units. Two sites can accommodate 100 units without need of additional road access. Another is slated for 50 units." Sounds like hundereds to me.
isldand is right
What would the development costs be? How much tax revenue would come in from the improved properties?
It seems like we need more 'starter' homes in Juneau for young workers. Not 3,000 sf McMansions, but 1,300 sf zero-lots that are a stepping stone to something larger. Right now kids can't get through the door of the 'Home Ownership Club'.
Just a question......
....In 1975, when I was about 10 - - - the population of Juneau was "about 30,000". Now, the population of Juneau is "about 30,000".
We've certainly built many more homes in Juneau, West Juneau, etc. since I was 10.
Where are all of these new people who need housing coming from, if our population is the same?
swimmergirl.... wrong
In 1975 Juneau's population was just over 18,000 people.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/resident-population-in-jun...
you might have to go into the date range and put in 1975.
As I understand it, in 1975,
As I understand it, in 1975, there wasnt "the valley" I think your numbers are a little off Swimmer...
CBJ is going to cause all
CBJ is going to cause all our home values to crash because they are about to flood the market with homes. There are homes sitting on the market right now and foreclosing every month in Juneau. This all hurts home values now. What the heck is going on at CBJ?
flooding the market with new taxpayer subsidized homes
will severely hurt the taxpayers who have already worked and saved to buy homes. Some people could be left in a situation where their home is worth less than they owe.
I don't know where the idea that people don't need to work, save and pay their own way comes from. Why do people who have done all these things and sacrificed have to pay double to help people who simply have not done these things for themselves?
for sale
check out homes that are for sale...hundreds of them
This has me worried. Can CBJ
This has me worried.
Can CBJ intentionally sabotage home values by flooding the market?
I would like to see a study that shows how this plan will NOT hurt my home value.
@cozmosIf you notice many of
@cozmos - At this real estate link there are homes & lots being offered at a "reduced" price. http://www.trulia.com/AK/Juneau/p_10/
Have and Have Not
Some pretty amazing posts! Now, the CBJ needs to "protect" home values! Young folks need to stay renters or move out of town so those Fritz Cove properties maintain value!!
Low end
There seems to be a need at the lower end of the housing market. Getting people out of rentals and into ownership is a good thing for everybody (except perhaps landlords who are raking in huge rents).
This also helps stem the 'brain drain' where our youth are leaving Juneau because of the housing situation.
These new owners are then starting to grow equity and an 'ownership' mentality in their housing and community. When they're ready for something a bit grander, they'll have the equity and credit history to be able to buy your place.
And getting more public land onto the tax roles helps shoulder the burden of paying for all the goodies we keep voting ourselves such as new schools, swimming pools, and shortly, new skating rinks.
Wonder Where?
I don't know where the land came from but I'm sure glad the Madsens' sold those bolt together homes in the Valley for $62,500 in the late '70s. A whole bunch of us got started!!
I was planning on hiring
I was planning on hiring Woodweavers s to build new kitchen cabinets in my home, after reading this I think not. I need to be able to recoup my costs
Snagger and Lat are
Snagger and Lat are right…Release the land...
@Do the right thing: Where do you get taxpayer subsidized at? It appears that the plan is to add a few roads and utilities then sell the lots at market value to private people to build private homes on.
Is this not what they are proposing?
Too much attention is being placed on 'starter homes'.
We need high rise rentals. Folks will find their way into the housing market. Right now too many are not left with the disposal income to work towards it.
noroadfugtive
all well & good so long as they're sold to individuals rather than developers at cut rate with the stipulation that they build to a set price. The scary thing with CBJU is we won’t find out about it till it’s too late. Look at the (sweetheart) deal Grant got for buying the property above/behind Fred Meyer. That’s the big problem with governments controlling the (or any) market place.