Auburn has taken the pro-housing pledge.
City Council voted last week to adopt the Pro-Housing Communities Pledge and send it to New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The pledge is necessary to receive the pro-housing community designation.
Speaking on FLX Morning, City Clerk Chuck Mason said this is only the beginning of the process for the city.
“This is the beginning of probably the next five years where we’re really taking a look at how we need to improve our housing stock at all levels,” Mason said.
He added that the next couple of years will be spent updating language in the city’s housing codes and adopting policies that “reinforce accessibility and support for housing.” The biggest thing Mason believes the city needs to work on is anticipating future housing needs, especially with Micron moving into nearby Clay.
“The biggest thing I think is really planning for the housing needs of the future,” said Mason. “Especially with the Mircon project over in Clay, New York, the whole Central New York region is taking a look at housing needs, and then Auburn and Cayuga County specifically will be focusing on what our housing needs are and how they fit in with the greater region’s housing needs.”
Under the governor’s proposed budget, pro-housing communities will receive priority consideration for up to $650 million in discretionary funds.
