Realtors back Mayor O'Connell on housing plan
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Nashville's Realtor association will work with the city on its new Unified Housing Strategy, the organization announced last week.
Why it matters: Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration needs private sector buy-in to successfully implement the 10-year strategy to address Nashville's housing crisis.
Catch up quick: Nashville needs 90,000 new homes over the next decade to keep pace with its surging growth, according to the Unified Housing Strategy report released last month.
- The report aims to align all Metro agencies working on housing issues and identify strategies to ease the affordability crisis.
- That followed the Planning Department's release of the Housing and Infrastructure Study earlier this year. That report, which was commissioned by the Metro Council, examined policy changes and investments that could help spur more housing.
What they're saying: "We're encouraged to see Metro aligning policy, planning, and community input in ways that can help expand access to homeownership and housing security," Greater Nashville Realtors president Collyn Wainwright said in a press release.
- In addition to the Realtor association, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee conveyed its support for the plan after it was announced. Community Foundation CEO Hal Cato said the nonprofit organization would "lean in with our Metro partners to help create a true community coalition united by a shared determination to make an impact on this issue that is foundational to our well-being as a community."
What's next: Metro will present the Unified Housing Strategy and solicit community feedback during a virtual meeting on Thursday.
- O'Connell earmarked $45 million in his proposed budget for housing initiatives, including recommendations in the Unified Housing Strategy.
Go deeper: Read the full Unified Housing Strategy.