John Day creating housing district to address shortage

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The city of John Day is creating a housing district to spur new home construction within city limits.

City Manager Nick Green tells Oregon Public Broadcasting that John Day’s rental vacancy rate is less than 1 percent, creating an obstacle for employers trying to recruit workers.

The city has secured state funding to create a housing district, and Green wants to incentivize new home building by waiving city fees.

Other eastern and central Oregon communities are seeing similar housing shortages.

___

Information from: KOPB-, http://www.opb.org