Family matters: Builders applaud initiative to revitalize urban areas

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"Saving America's Cities" a congressional initiative to revitalize the nation's cities unveiled May 19 by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is an important step forward to build a better future for urban communities and to help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing in major metropolitan areas, according to the National Association of Home Builders.|ret||ret||tab|

"Millions of the nation's working families simply cannot afford to live in the communities in which they work, which is why NAHB has made work-force housing one of its highest priorities," said Bobby Rayburn, NAHB president and a home and apartment builder from Jackson, Miss., in an NAHB news release. |ret||ret||tab|

"The nation's home builders look forward to partnering with members of Congress to develop strategies that eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers and make it easier for households to purchase or rent a decent home in or close to the downtown neighborhoods where they work," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

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Work-force housing|ret||ret||tab|

Work-force housing is housing that is affordable for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public servants, as well as millions of Americans in the service and retail industries. |ret||ret||tab|

"These are the people who teach our children, keep our streets safe, and provide the services we depend on," Rayburn said. "Many of these people are forced to commute long distances, or they live in housing that simply does not meet their needs."|ret||ret||tab|

The new initiative seeks to develop specific policies and objectives that address the growing challenges facing cities. A major emphasis of the effort will be to encourage private-sector investment in America's urban areas. |ret||ret||tab|

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Core principles|ret||ret||tab|

Saving America's Cities has proposed five core principles on which it hopes to build.|ret||ret||tab|

Cities should be vibrant cultural, economic, tourist and social education centers.|ret||ret||tab|

Cities should be advanced health care and education centers.|ret||ret||tab|

Cities should be clean, attractive and safe.|ret||ret||tab|

Cities should have diverse economic and cultural populations.|ret||ret||tab|

The health of cities is vital to the well-being of suburbs and surrounding regions.|ret||ret||tab|

NAHB sees Saving America's Cities as a reflection of several of its own smart-growth principles.|ret||ret||tab|

"Revitalizing our nation's cities and inner suburbs and encouraging infill development is universally recognized as sound public policy," said Rayburn.|ret||ret||tab|

The Saving America's Cities work group comprises approximately 20 members of Congress. NAHB is a third-party partner organization, along with American Planning Association, Building Owners and Managers Association International, Empower America, Enterprise Foundation, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers and Preservation Action.|ret||ret||tab|

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