We’re Growing – Where Will Everyone Live?
What I learned from sitting down with the people who build, develop, finance and sell housing in our community
As we prepare for the growth expected in McCracken County, housing is an issue we need to be talking about NOW—not after the demand is already here.
Recently, I brought together a focus group of people who work with these issues every day, including local realtors, developers, investors, electricians, and representatives from our joint sewer agency. It was an informative conversation, and I came away with a better understanding of both the challenges we face and the opportunities we have.
One thing was clear: we need to be talking with the people who actually build, develop, finance and sell housing in our community.
My business experience has taught me that the first step to any good plan is having the right people at the table. Before we decide what the answer is, we need to listen to the people who understand the challenges firsthand.
Several important points came out of our discussion:
We need to look at how the City and COUNTY can make it easier for our local developers and investors to do business.
We need better communication with developers so we understand what may be standing in the way of new housing.
For larger projects, we may well need to explore whether public-private partnerships can help make developments possible that otherwise would not be.
De-risking projects for developers can help get things moving • But our planning can’t stop with the immediate need.
If additional housing is developed to accommodate a large construction workforce, what happens to that housing when those workers leave? We need to think beyond the next few years and consider how those developments can continue serving our community for decades to come.
I have already visited communities that have successfully managed periods of significant growth, and I know there is a great deal we can learn from them. But just as importantly I believe we should study communities that didn’t handle growth well. Sometimes understanding what went wrong can be just as valuable as seeing what went right.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from this meeting was that we need more conversations like this and I will continue to follow up.
Government doesn’t have all the answers. Neither does any one developer, business owner or organization. But when we bring the right people together, ask good questions and listen to their experience, we can make better decisions.
Listen. Do the homework. Then develop the plan.
That’s the approach I’ve taken throughout my career, and it’s the approach I will bring to the McCracken County Judge Executive’s office if elected.
George Bray
Candidate for McCracken County Judge Executive