Officials Discuss Ways to Make Housing Affordable

The American dream of owning a home doesn’t have to be the impossible dream for so many Ventura County residents if government regulations can be reduced, developer fees slashed and innovative construction techniques used.

These were a few of the ideas discussed by more than 100 county, state and building officials who participated in an affordable housing summit Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley.

Officials pointed out that the median price of a house in Ventura County is $234,180, far beyond the reach of many residents and people who work in the region.

“We’re in danger of losing the American dream if we don’t make housing affordable for everybody,” said County Supervisor Vicky Howard, one of the featured speakers at the summit.

Howard, a former real estate broker, said county and city officials need to be more lenient in their building regulations and development policies to help reduce construction costs.

She said new building techniques also need to be explored. She suggested that prefabricated or do-it-yourself housing might be a way to cut development costs.

Other officials who spoke were Marcia Salkin, an official with the California Assn. of Realtors; Tim Coyle, executive director of the state’s Housing and Community Development Department, and Larry Arnn, who has worked closely with Housing Secretary Jack Kemp on the affordable housing issue.

Elaine Freeman, a developer’s consultant who helped organize the summit, said participants were asked to come up with recommendations to promote the building of cheaper housing in the county. She said those recommendations will be compiled and forwarded to city, county, state and federal officials.