Ohio REALTORS introduce free statewide guide to develop homes in vacant lots
Ohio is facing a housing crisis, and a new statewide program aims to help by transforming vacant lots into new housing developments.
The Ohio REALTORS and Greater Ohio Policy Center collaborated and released the Housing Ohio guidebook this month to promote infill housing across Ohio.
Ohio is one of three states in the U.S. with guidelines ready for infill housing developments, joining Michigan and Vermont.
What is infill housing?
When a dilapidated building or blighted property gets torn down, the property is demolished and the site is leveled.
Infill housing is empty space suitable for building above-ground structures.
With Housing Ohio’s plans and tools for infill development, the lots across Ohio can become single-family homes and duplexes.
There are several benefits to making empty lots into housing options, including neighborhood revitalization, utilization of existing infrastructure and preservation of natural spaces.
What’s included in the housing guidebook?
Developers and city officials who check out the guidebooks now have access to free building plans.
According to Ohio REALTORS, having plans reduces early costs of building, like architectural fees; the plans for homes and duplexes are already made so developers can get to work.
Sharon Drummond is the president of Youngstown Columbiana Area of Realtors.
“It’s a great start in addressing a much-needed concern for our Mahoning Valley, so that we may continue to strive for more and better housing for our neighbors and to strive to develop our communities for future business growth right here in Ohio,” Drummond said.
According to Housing Ohio, making zoning adjustments in Ohio’s cities can also help meet the growing demand for housing.
Adjusting zoning laws allows for a broader range of housing options that meet the needs of various household types.
In the A la Carte Zoning Adjustments section, read about how other Ohio cities are making changes to increase housing options, including Cincinnati and Dayton.
There’s also a how-to guide for local government agencies to establish a pre-approved building plan program.
These are home designs approved ahead of time by Ohio’s municipalities and counties that are ready to be built with an expedited permitting process.
These plans are designed to promote new construction by limiting the time and expense associated with the city’s planning and review process.
The guidebook is available online.