Construction & Real Estate
An example of one of JLAM’s rental communities, the Oaks at Georgetown in Georgetown.
Embrace Variety
Creativity with future housing developments is required to solve the housing shortage BY DOUG MOTLEY CURRENTLY, Delaware has an 18,000-20,000-housing unit shortage while the United States faces a 3-7 million deficiency, depending on what source you read. The issue is compounded by continued growth in the U.S. population while also more and more people are falling in love with, and moving to, the charming First State. To address the pressing issue of the housing shortage, I believe it is crucial to consider and take action to influence both the supply side and demand side of the equation. One of the best aspects of the state is the ability for people to connect to make change happen—and we must in order to compete with other states and to take care of our residents. Here are a few of the key levers we can address to make an impact:
HOUSING VARIETY Delaware’s housing stock (particularly excluding Wilmington) primarily consists of single-family detached homes. While these homes meet the needs of many, there are large segments of the population that prefer—or require—a different type of housing. This preference could be driven 36
by accessibility, affordability, location, family size, services needed, or other factors. Encouraging and enabling the creation of a wider variety of housing types, including traditional apartments, cottages, attached townhomes/duplexes, garage apartments, and other ancillary dwellings would provide a broader set of options and price points for Delawareans to choose from while consuming less space.
ENABLING LEGISLATION AND ZONING There are multiple reasons why we don’t have more of these housing options today, but a significant one is the applicable land use code in each jurisdiction. If the existing zoning allows for lower density single family homes, a zoning change would be required to enable building these other housing types. Most developers will avoid the time and risk associated with a potential rezoning. Local elected officials that vote on these rezoning requests are often faced with a vocal minority opposing increased density (also known as the Not In My Back Yard, or NIMBY, pressures). Ironically, opposing density results in more sprawl, more of the same housing, and November/December 2023
| DELAWARE BUSINESS
