More Wilmette Letters

In response to the previous posted letters, more letters from readers:
" I believe that the Village should consider market-based incentives for creating more affordable housing. "
Response:
These density bonuses are NOT "market based"! They are disguised subsidies!! The "cost" of the subsidy is higher density forced upon all the rest of us. Does anyone think the roads are not yet crowded enough??


"to devise a market based plan to promote more affordable housing in the city without any new mandates. The gist of the program entails providing "as of right" FAR and/or density bonuses to developers who voluntarily agree to add "Affordable" units to their multi-family developments. Alternatively, they can make a voluntary contribution to the city's affordable housing fund. "
Response:
Mandating "Voluntary contribution(s) to the city's aff hsg fund"??????

"In truth, the only way to meaningfully increase affordable housing options in the Village is to change the Zoning code in order to significantly increase allowable density for new multi-family developments. I, personally, do not advocate such a position; however, it is an issue that needs to be discussed within the context of the whole affordable housing debate. "
Response:
Realistically, even high density multi-family housing will ultimately sell at "too high" a price. The North Shore is simply too desirable a place to have nice access sell cheaply. Only if it degenerates into "not nice", a la the Mold Building, will it trade at an 'affordable' level.

The teardown tax is bad policy and should not pass based on that. And the broader debate on "affordable housing" points out the unworkable assumptions of the village's vague plan.

CLARIFICATION: Mr. Dekker is not advocating AH, full quote reads:

Without digressing further into the issue of trying to create more affordable housing in the Village, I am very concerned about the creation of a new tax that will likely have unforeseen and unintended consequences well into the future. If the Village wants to promote affordable housing initiatives within this community, then by all means let’s put all the issues on the table; however, there needs to be a great deal more community input before deciding how to go about it. If the community ultimately decides that affordable housing is a worthwhile goal to pursue, I believe that the Village should consider market-based incentives for creating more affordable housing.