Charles Simms Development
By Charles H. Simms
Four times a year, in three of our area counties, members of the Dayton Home Builders Association meet with the top elected officials and department heads that oversee our industry.
The three include Montgomery, Greene and Warren counties. During the meeting large and small topics are discussed. Builders and developers learn what each county has planned in not only their engineering departments but also their economic development offices. In turn they like to hear what we are planning so they can plan their infrastructure improvements and policies accordingly.
Each country realizes the home building industry is one of the top driving forces in their area for job growth, income tax revenue and real estate taxes. That puts our association in a unique position to have our voice heard and advocate our members’ needs to the people who control and shape their counties policies and standards.
At a recent meeting in Greene County they shared residential construction totals which were almost $200 million for 2018. That is a lot of homes, townhomes and apartments. Beavercreek Twp., the City of Beavercreek, Fairborn and Sugarcreek Twp. led the way, with Xenia, Bellbrook and Cedarville Twp. with strong numbers also.
During the meeting these figureheads asked area developers and builders what they want as they often want us to choose to build in their cities and townships. Our reply, loud and clear, was less regulation and more density. Regulations can add thousands of dollars to a home; these are not just permit fees. Impact fees and other fees can actually cause developers to skip an area.
The big one is density. The market wants smaller lots and less maintenance which in turn lowers the cost of housing bills and upkeep. The days of everyone wanting to live on a one-acre home in the suburbs is coming to an end. City living and infill areas are what is popular now.
Higher density is actually green in nature, contrary to popular belief. Infill sites that create more homes per acre take advantage of existing infrastructure, and developing such lots costs less than sprawling out in the country. Our company during the last six years has achieved densities between 14 and 31 units per acre in downtown Dayton and close to six per acre currently in the City of Beavercreek. This ultimately provides more affordable housing to the market and makes the American dream of homeownship a reality for more people right here in Dayton.
Our quality of life is excellent in Dayton because of private and public collaborations such as our Developer Council quarterly meetings. It’s just one of the ways our Home Builders Association protects our members and our community to provide quality new homes at a price people can afford.