Guide for Developing Housing on County-Owned Land
This guide outlines how counties can strategically use their own vacant or underutilized land to help address the nationwide shortage of affordable housing. It walks county leaders through a structured process: identifying suitable parcels, evaluating zoning constraints, modeling financial feasibility through pro formas and selecting the right ownership and development structure. The report emphasizes how these steps—combined with understanding local infrastructure, neighborhood context and potential housing typologies—can reduce land and development costs while boosting long-term affordability.
By following the practices shared through NACo’s Counties for Housing Solutions program, counties can overcome common barriers, build public trust, attract developers and ultimately expand housing supply.
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This guide outlines how counties can strategically use their own vacant or underutilized land to help address the nationwide shortage of affordable housing. It walks county leaders through a structured process: identifying suitable parcels, evaluating zoning constraints, modeling financial feasibility through pro formas and selecting the right ownership and development structure. The report emphasizes how these steps—combined with understanding local infrastructure, neighborhood context and potential housing typologies—can reduce land and development costs while boosting long-term affordability.
By following the practices shared through NACo’s Counties for Housing Solutions program, counties can overcome common barriers, build public trust, attract developers and ultimately expand housing supply.
Housing Affordability Resource Hub
This resource hub brings together data, analysis and tools to support county leaders in expanding housing access and affordability for their residents.
National Association of Counties Appoints Task Force on Youth Housing and Homelessness
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County-backed loan fund unlocks thousands of affordable housing units
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