Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/24/2009

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Ramsey area. As this group increases and as the housing market improves, this product could be considered for development. In addition to a sufficient economic recovery, the increase in amenities of the Ramsey area (i.e. commercial development, transportation improvements, etc.) will add appeal to the area and pro- mote demand for new housing products. Specifically, should the City of Ramsey be successful in securing a transit stop for the new Northstar Commuter Rail line, it is likely that new housing demand will increase more rapidly in the area. Until the line is easily accessible to Ramsey resi- dents, household growth may continue to lag behind projections. Recommendations In order of priority, the following points identifY recommendations regarding affordable and sen- ior housing development in the City of Ramsey. · We recommend that the Anoka County HRA pause on development of new workforce housing units until the economy begins to improve. Vacant rental and actively marketing for-sale units (both new and previously owned) will satisfY housing needs among this market segment in the near term. · The City of Ramsey should encourage development of service-enhanced senior housing in the near term. At least one modestly-sized project with assisted living and memory care would meet the needs of older, frailer seniors who would otherwise need to relocate to a surrounding community in order to find this type of supportive senior housing. Due to the need-based nature of service-enhanced housing, assisted living and memory care are better able to withstand down markets than independent senior housing, and would be a viable option for development in the current economy. · New workforce housing units should be considered for delivery in late 2011 to early 2012. Workforce housing units could include a new affordable rental development and additional moderately-priced and/or financially assisted townhome product. Potentially, some small lot single-family homes could also be developed to meet the needs of moder- ate-income family households. We recommend that Ramsey Town Center be considered as a location for some but not all of these units. · Also in 2011 to 2012 we recommend that the City of Ramsey consider development of new independent senior housing. We believe a mixed-income product would be a desir- able concept for Ramsey with approximately 20% of the total units subsidized and the remaining units market rate. To minimize any competitive overlap with Oaks of Lake George in Oak Grove, we recommend developing this housing product near Highway 10 in southern Ramsey, generally in the Ramsey Town Center area. The development of new housing units hinges on a satisfactory recovery of the economy in the next several years. As previously stated, our assessment of current economic conditions and ticipated slow recovery in the near term supports our recommendations to temporarily MAXFIELD RESEARCH INC.