KarenM, it is simply untrue that the city has limited ability to impact the private sector when it comes to building. Per the National Association of Homebuilders, development costs are on average about 21% to 23% of the final cost of a home. Olympia is one of the most egregious when it comes to the costs associated with development. I have received reports (I work in the building industry) of projects spending over a $100k per home in Thurston and in Olympia before ever breaking ground. There are people on the streets for a variety of reasons, but one of those reasons is that anti-growth policies are pricing them out. The irony in the arguments against the MFTE and other policies, by these same people, is that they don't realize who they're actually hurting (at least I hope they don't). By eliminating the MFTE, which IS argued here, it would take away a way to mitigate costs to builders. That is true. However, it won't hurt the big corporate developers. They'll either not build (which hurts our community) or they will throw as much money as they have to at the problem until they overcome it. Eliminating incentives like an MFTE will only hurt the smaller local builders who live, work, and play in our community and provide a true service. They will be priced out. Then, so will their neighbors who are with or without a home. You want to stop "gentrification" by big developers? Make it a priority to give local builders projects and leave incentives for them in place. And if they help us get to the goal of fulfilling the need for houses, then they absolutely deserve to be paid for it. Not to mention, they are skilled craftsmen and deserve to be paid for that skill. The government doesn't build houses. We need to make it easier for our local builders to build. That's how we meet the need for affordable housing for all (not just subsidized housing).
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