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Consultants tell committee aging population, limited single‑family buildout point to mixed‑use and senior housing on county campus
Summary
Consultants Nate Day and Brian told the Richland County Campus Reconfiguration Committee that county data show about 100 new households per year but that new single‑family construction may be limited to roughly 10 units annually; they recommended infrastructure investment, parceling lots, and exploring senior‑oriented multifamily and manufactured housing to meet demand.
Consultants contracted to study the county‑owned campus presented market data and development options, saying the county sees roughly 100 new households per year while new single‑family construction may be limited to about 10 units annually. Nate Day and a colleague, Brian, said the county’s population is aging and that demand is shifting toward housing with no steps and lower maintenance, which favors senior‑oriented multifamily formats and townhouse‑style products over new single‑family detached homes.
Why it matters: The consultants warned that an aging population will increase demand for accessible, lower‑maintenance housing while younger cohorts are stagnating. They recommended the county consider incentives — for example, installing infrastructure and selling lots individually — to make development financially feasible for small builders.
The presentation included early cost and product observations: one consultant referenced a per‑unit cost figure phrased in the record as “about $2.50,” which committee members asked staff to clarify (the unit and scale were not specified in the presentation and were recorded as stated). Consultants also flagged that older homes on the market may lack modern connectivity (Wi‑Fi/cabling) and that manufactured housing (described as modern manufactured units, not older mobile homes) can be a cost‑efficient option.
Committee members probed the consultants’ “100 new households per year” estimate, and staff said the number includes households moving into existing units, mobile homes, and some new single‑family construction; consultants said they would shore up the figures once census data fully refreshed.
Next steps: Consultants suggested preparing bubble diagrams and preliminary infrastructure layouts as a next phase and recommended soliciting developer feedback via an RFP once the county and city confirm priorities. The committee asked staff to return with clarified cost estimates and refined household projections at a future meeting.
