By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph leaders have targeted housing as a real need if the city is to grow.
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn says the Chamber is working with the city on a housing initiative.
“We have a study that will be rolling out, hopefully about the first of April, that will be an info housing study. And really what that is going to be designed to do is to look at areas of town that have potential for redevelopment,” Hawn says. “So, not necessarily looking at areas that are already getting development, like a Greystone, but looking at areas in maybe midtown that are really on the cusp of having potential for redevelopment.”
Hawn says a Housing Task Force will be reviewing ways to attract developers willing to take on the redevelopment of entire blocks, rather than individual houses. Hawn says several sections of the city have a lot of potential for redevelopment.
Hawn says housing is a vital piece in the development of downtown St. Joseph.
“We have to have more market-rate housing downtown if we ever want to continue to grow downtown,” according to Hawn. “So, you’ve got to create the walkability. So, you have to have projects like the market and the Children’s Discovery Center to get people downtown, but then you also have to have housing, where you have people that are everyday; that’s two blocks from their house, that’s where they go for their coffee or for their groceries or whatever it might be.”
Hawn says the task force will be working with a consultant to pinpoint areas ripe for development.
“We can then put a playbook together to go after some developers who are developing, but maybe don’t necessarily see the potential in downtown or midtown and with the help of community resources as far as like helping navigate the process, make it easier for them, really helping make it a win-win for our community,” Hawn says.
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