IRVINE : High-Rises Called Housing Solution

Orange County cities must allow more high-rise housing and more homes per acre so that enough affordable housing can be provided for the area, panelists said at a Thursday forum.

“Increasing density is one of the easiest answers because it doesn’t cost any extra money,” said Rick Doremus, president of the Costa Mesa-based EPAC Housing Corp.

According to National Assn. of Homebuilders President Ira C. Norris, cities could encourage developers to provide more affordable housing by allowing more high-density projects.

Alan Kreditor, executive director of USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate Development, said lower developer fees could cut the cost of new homes by up to 50%.

Kreditor and other real estate leaders said Thursday that the lack of affordable housing is a problem throughout Southern California, but is particularly acute in Orange County, one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets.

The Lusk Center, part of USC’s School of Urban and Regional Planning, annually picks the current “hot” topic in real estate as the focus of its regular forums, said Marilyn Ellis, a school spokeswoman.

“Affordable housing is a problem everyone is dealing with,” Ellis said.

The forum, held at the Irvine Hilton, featured real estate and housing experts from Los Angeles and Orange counties.