Carmel Housing Task Force releases initial recommendations

Report among first critical step in addressing housing inventory & needs

The Carmel Housing Task Force, a team of local leaders, experts, and Carmel citizens established to study the state of housing in the city, shared its report in a public meeting this morning.

Designed to ensure the housing needs of all Carmel residents and support workforce needs of the business community, the task force was announced in February to take a lead role in informing the city’s future housing strategy.

The task force spent the past months learning from residents about the housing needs of the community and from industry experts about best practices to support them, looking to data and trends from the city, region, and nation.

Over a series of eight meetings that included robust input from the community, the task force identified key challenges related to the housing market, including lack of supply, increased and shifting demand, and affordability.

Highlights from the 13 key recommendations included in the Finding and Recommendations Report:

• Continuing the work of the task force by making it a permanent committee to advise the mayor
• Developing a housing strategy and vision plan to further identify the life cycle of housing needs
• Facilitate development of missing middle housing – smaller ownership units desired by both seniors looking to downsize and young, first-time home buyers
• Adopt a development strategy for new apartment construction
• Acquisition of green space

Mayor Sue Finkam formed the committee with three goals in mind: securing data to better understand the myriad issues facing the city, providing transparency through engaging residents in the process and creating a blueprint to support a long-term plan.

Noting that, as part of Carmel’s recent community survey, 97 percent of respondents described the quality of life in Carmel as excellent, Mayor Finkam emphasized that housing plays a key role in supporting livability.

Finkam

“Lack of desired housing leads to lifestyle compromises, talent and business attraction concerns. These can all negatively impact the way we interact with and enjoy our community, and our potential future success,” Finkam said. “We have led on the issue of providing viable and varied housing options, and we will continue to lead on this issue.”

Mayor Finkam will continue reviewing the findings of the group and expressed thanks to the task force members, citing their tireless efforts and thoughtful recommendations.

“This work will serve as a vital resource as we strive to create better housing solutions for our residents,” she said.

Task force members:

• Adam Aasen, Carmel City Council
• Dave Bowers, Carmel Redevelopment Commission
• Barbara Eden, Carmel resident
• Todd Fenoglio, Carmel Clay Schools
• Matt Kaercher, Merchants Capital
• Chris Pryor, MIBOR, Task Force Vice Chair
• Jack Russell, OneZone Chamber of Commerce
• Aletta Sanders, HAND, Incorporated
• Christine Zoccola, Carmel Plan Commission, Task Force Chair

Visit the Carmel Housing Task Force website for more information including studies, past meetings and public correspondence. Click here to watch the Sept. 12 meeting on YouTube.