5.0. HRSR 11-24-2003 ITEM # 5.
ity
iE1kk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority CC
FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development j'Ji
DATE: November 24, 2003
SUBJECT: Housing Work Plan: Housing Availability/Affordability Survey
Results
Attachment
• Housing availability and affordability survey (versions 1 &2)
Background
At its March 2003 meeting, the HRA accepted a Housing Work Plan,which included
presentations each month from the following cities/organizations in order to gather
information and examples of housing programs and partnership possibilities:
• MN Housing Finance Agency
• City of Fridley
• St. Cloud HRA
• Central MN Housing Partnership
• Tri-CAP
• Habitat for Humanity
In September, a housing stock inventory/analysis of Elk River was presented by the
Planning Department as the final Housing Work Plan session. The analysis corresponds
with the anticipated completion of the Comprehensive Plan. Both documents should be
used by the HRA to determine if the current housing balance in Elk River is satisfactory.
Follow Up
Following the September presentation and discussion, the HRA directed staff to conduct an
informal/non-scientific survey of Elk River manufacturers regarding housing availability and
affordability issues. In November, the HRA directed staff to expand the survey beyond
manufacturers to include approximately fifty retail/service type businesses. In addition,the
HRA directed staff to include an additional question to the retail/service business survey
regarding employee commute times.
Housing Survey Results
Page 2 of 3
• Staff received a random list of ninety Elk River retail/service businesses from the Elk River
Area Chamber of Commerce. The two versions of the survey (one for manufacturers and
another for retail/service business) are attached.
Survey Results
Staff received 14 responses out of 36 surveys sent to Elk River manufacturers and 17 out of
90 sent to retail/services businesses.
What percentage of your employees live outside of Elk River?
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
0-25% 2 7 9
25-50% 4 4 8
50-75% 3 3 6
75-100% 5 3 8
Other than Elk River,in which communities do your employees live? Check all that apply.
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Elsewhere in Sherburne County 11 17 28
Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area&Its Suburbs 9 5 14
Other (Manufacturing):
Anoka, Isanti (2 responses),Hennepin County,Mille Lacs County (2 responses), Stearns
County,Princeton, New York State,Milaca,Anoka County,Ramsey County,Monticello,
Buffalo, and St. Francis
Other (Retail/Service):
Watertown, Milaca (2 responses), Zimmerman,Ramsey (2 responses), Buffalo,Monticello,
Anoka County, Mille Lacs County,Wright County (3 responses), Stearns County, and Isanti
On average, how many miles do your employees commute to work? Only Retail/Service
businesses were asked this question.
Retail/Service
0-10 miles 9
10-20 miles 7
20-30 miles 2 (1 person checked both 10-20 miles and 20-30 miles)
30-40 miles 0
Is Elk River meeting the housing needs of your employees?
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Yes 9 7 16
No 2 7 9
110 Not Sure 2 1 3
Non Applicable 1 2 3
Housing Survey Results
Page 3 of 3
If not,which items do you believe are the reasons? Check all that apply.
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Availability of rental housing 1 3 4
Availability of single-family non-rental housing 1 2 3
Availability of affordable housing 3 9 12
Condition of multi-family housing 0 0 0
Condition of single-family housing 0 0 0
Analysis
• The percentage of manufacturing employees living outside of Elk River is evenly
split between small and large percentages.
• Most manufacturing employers feel that Elk River is meeting the housing needs of
their employees.
• Most retail/service employees live in Elk River and/or travel less than 20 miles to
work.
• Retail/service employers have mixed feelings on whether Elk River is meeting the
housing needs of their employees.
Suburban Northwest Builders Association Inquiry
Staff contacted Sharon Kampa of the Suburban Northwest Builders Association in response
to her inquiry regarding housing rehabilitation programs. Staff referred Ms. Kampa to the
• Central MN Housing Partnership and Tri-CAP since both organizations administer such
programs. Ms. Kampa did not request additional information from the City at this time.
In addition,more information on housing rehabilitation and housing assistance referral has
been added to the City's Economic Development web page.
J/
ilk
River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
At its September 22, 2003 meeting, the Elk River Housing&Redevelopment Authority (HRA) asked city
staff to contact Elk River manufacturing employers,regarding Elk River's housing availability and
affordability.
1. What percentage of your employees live outside of Elk River?
0-25% ❑ 25-50% ❑ 50-75%0 75-100% ❑
2. Other than Elk River,in which communities do your employees live?
❑ Elsewhere in Sherburne County
❑ Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area & Its Suburbs
Other
3. Is Elk River meeting the housing needs of your employees?
Yes ❑ No ❑
If not,which items do you believe are the reasons? Check all that apply.
❑ Availability of rental housing
❑ Availability of single-family non-rental housing
❑ Availability of affordable housing (rent/house payment should be 30% of gross income)
❑ Condition of multi-family housing
❑ Condition of single-family housing
Please fax your completed survey by November 7, 2003 to Heidi Steinmetz at (763) 635-1090.
and/or contact Heidi at (763) 635-1042 with any questions.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!
Phone:763.635.1000
Fax:763.635.1090
www.ci.elk-river.mn.us
-I/
ilk
River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
At its October 27, 2003 meeting, the Elk River Housing&Redevelopment Authority (HRA) asked city staff
to contact Elk River employers,regarding Elk River's housing availability and affordability.
1. What percentage of your employees live outside of Elk River?
0-25% ❑ 25-50% ❑ 50-75% ❑ 75-100% ❑
2. Other than Elk River,in which communities do your employees live?
❑ Elsewhere in Sherburne County
❑ Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area&Its Suburbs
❑ Other
On average, how many miles do your employees commute to work?
0-10 miles ❑ 10-20 miles ❑ 20-30 miles ❑ 30-40 miles ❑
3. Is Elk River meeting the housing needs of your employees?
Yes ❑ No ❑
If not,which items do you believe are the reasons? Check all that apply.
❑ Availability of rental housing
❑ Availability of single-family non-rental housing
❑ Availability of affordable housing (rent/house payment should be 30% of gross income)
❑ Condition of multi-family housing
❑ Condition of single-family housing
Please fax your completed survey by November 14, 2003 to Heidi Steinmetz at (763) 635-1090.
and/or contact Heidi at (763) 635-1042 with any questions.
• Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!
Phone:763.635.1000
Fax:763.635.1090
www.ci.elk-river.mn.us