Itasca Housing Study

HKGi worked with a market consultant to conduct a Comprehensive Housing Study and Land Use & Zoning Analysis for Itasca County, culminating with a presentation to community leaders and residents at the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids. Like so many communities across the nation, the cities and townships in Itasca County are struggling with a shortage of affordable housing, which inhibits economic growth and the ability to adequately house the area’s workforce.

Through a detailed demographic and economic analysis, along with a thorough inventory of the existing housing supply, the planning team’s market consultant completed a comprehensive housing study that incorporated projections and a needs analysis. The consultant also interviewed property managers, realtors, economic development professionals, and major employers. The analysis also included a projection of future housing need that would stem specifically from high profile economic development projects currently being proposed for the county.

The second part of the analysis focused on identifying how land use regulations might be revised to encourage new housing development in the county. From its research and data collection, the consultant team identified five key issues that represent the most significant barriers to new housing development. The team also identified recommendations for addressing each issue, providing county leaders, residents, and members of the development community with a foundation of information they can use to take action to put the county on a path towards a growing housing supply.