Affordable housing is needed in Decorah--but how to get it?

The results of a survey involving housing in Decorah were disclosed Monday evening by Upper Explorerland Planning Consultant Sara Neuzil.

181 City of Decorah residents responded to the survey, with Neuzil concluding, "There is definitely a need for lower-cost housing...or for higher salaries."  The survey placed the need at 521 units of housing for people with yearly incomes less than $25,000.

But where will that housing come from?  A group of around 20 Decorah residents spent an hour and a half Monday evening reviewing survey results and other data.  Neuzil agreed with comments that contractors can't afford to build houses at that price point.  By comparison, around one-quarter of houses in Decorah are assessed at $200,000 or higher.

Some ideas suggested at the meeting included building housing in connection with building a new elementary school, building more housing above existing businesses in downtown buildings and building more housing on the east end of Water Street.