Congressional Effort to Revitalize Cities for Affordably Priced Housing - 5/24/2004 - Mortgage Loan Refinance Debt Equity

Congressional Effort to Revitalize Cities Holds Promise for Affordably Priced Housing

“Millions of the nation’s working families simply cannot afford to live in the communities in which they work, which is why NAHB has made workforce housing one of its highest priorities,” said Rayburn. “The nation’s home builders look forward to partnering with members of Congress to develop strategies that eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers and make it easier for households to purchase or rent a decent home in or close to the downtown neighborhoods where they work.”

Hastert has named Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) to chair the new initiative, which seeks to develop specific policies and objectives that address the growing challenges facing cities. A major emphasis of the effort is to encourage private-sector investment in urban areas.

Rayburn called Turner “an outstanding choice” to head this effort because of his strong record as an advocate of housing during his two terms as the mayor of Dayton.

Saving America’s Cities has proposed five core principles on which it hopes to build:

• Cities should be vibrant cultural, economic, tourist and social education centers.
• Cities should be advanced health care and education centers.
• Cities should be clean, attractive and safe.
• Cities should have diverse economic and cultural populations.
• The health of cities is vital to the well-being of suburbs and surrounding regions.

NAHB sees Saving America’s Cities as a reflection of several of its own smart growth principles.

“Revitalizing our nation’s cities and inner suburbs and encouraging infill development is universally recognized as sound public policy,” said Rayburn.

The Saving America’s Cities work group is comprised of approximately 20 members of Congress. NAHB is a third-party partner organization, along with the American Planning Association, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Empower America, The Enterprise Foundation, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers and Preservation Action.