Council hears housing‑needs assessment: seniors, missing‑middle and workforce housing rise as priorities

Consultants from Grow America presented a citywide housing needs assessment and strategy options to the Richardson City Council on Oct. 20, concluding the city faces growing demand for housing types and price points not currently abundant in Richardson.

The presentation, led by Maureen Milligan of Grow America, drew on federal and local data and framed three primary needs: (1) older, lower‑income homeowners need options to stay and age safely in place; (2) more reasonably priced for‑sale units are needed to accommodate families and starter‑home buyers; and (3) well‑maintained rental units affordable to lower‑wage workers are in short supply. Milligan said vacancy rates have tightened — rental vacancy fell from about 7.3% to about 5.1% — while household growth modestly outpaced new housing supply.

Key findings and numbers presented: - Median household income in Richardson: about $96,257; 50% of area median income (AMI) ≈ $58,650. - Average single‑family home sales price (2024): about $515,633 — roughly a 175% increase since 2011. - Household size has trended smaller (from about 2.64 to 2.51 persons), while housing demand tightened. - The city has little subsidized housing for families;…