A grassroots effort in Eau Claire’s Historic Randall Park Neighborhood could gradually lead to a greater balance of homeowners and renters in the area, as well as improving its overall housing quality.
The Historic Randall Park Revitalization Corp. has been pursuing those goals for more than a year, according to Helene Smiar, president of the nonprofit corporation. Currently, 85% of the homes in the neighborhood are rental prperties, with UW-Eau Claire students the primary tenants. That ratio is unsistainable for any neighborhood, Smiar said.
Transportation, complex regulations among factors contributing to affordable housing crisis here, according to speakers at JONAH forum
Lack of transportation, complex federal regulations, the lack of a central housing agency and the impending loss of major federal funding are all contributing to an affordable housing crisis in Eau Claire – one that most people are unaware of. These factors were discussed Monday at a JONAH forum that focused on the critical need to increase the local supply of affordable housing.