Last year the city of Hopkinsville hired a consultant to analyze housing conditions and future needs. According to the study, the community will need more than three thousand additional homes in the near future to keep up with demand.
City of Hopkinsville Policy Analyst Cody Brem says the findings helped shape the city’s next steps.
The study found the need is split almost evenly between rental units and homes for sale. Brem says the city responded by creating a housing task force made up of community leaders, utility officials, nonprofit representatives and city council members.
City officials say the group’s goal is to involve the community and local stakeholders in developing housing solutions. Brem says the task force held its first meeting recently.
While the task force develops long-term strategies, the city already has several programs in place aimed at improving housing availability.
Hopkinsville Public Information Officer Amanda Brunt says one challenge is the number of vacant or abandoned properties across the city.
Brunt says those unused lots are costly for the city to maintain.
To address that issue, the city has launched programs designed to return vacant properties to productive use. One of those programs allows neighbors to obtain abandoned lots next to their property.
Another effort allows the city to foreclose on properties where unpaid taxes and liens exceed the value of the land, clearing the way for redevelopment.
Brem says many of those properties could eventually become new housing.
City leaders say even if every vacant lot in Hopkinsville were redeveloped, more construction will still be needed to meet the housing demand identified in the study.
Officials say the housing task force will now begin reviewing possible incentives and development strategies aimed at increasing both single-family and multi-family housing across the city.
For more information on the housing study and city programs, residents can visit the city’s website.
