Minimum Wage for SoWal???

[John R]

you'd figure the large developement companies would take the lead in the housing situation, since they are highly dependant on the workers needed, but it's all about the $/acre. old news, i know. st. joe is relatively new at this but leucadia is not. they've been dealing with resort labor and development issues for years already, in salt lake, telluride, napa, and now here and a new 'community' in maine. i see no employee housing covenants included in docs at rosemary or draper lake. the slack will have to be addressed by the county. they'll end up being a landlord of apt style housing units that will be the only place the above mentioned employees can afford. hopefully the county will wake up soon and demand a portion of density be directed towards workforce housing.

leucadia article
http://www.workingwaterfront.com/article.asp?storyID=20051105


jr

 

[Kurt]

you'd figure the large developement companies would take the lead in the housing situation, since they are highly dependant on the workers needed, but it's all about the $/acre. old news, i know. st. joe is relatively new at this but leucadia is not. they've been dealing with resort labor and development issues for years already, in salt lake, telluride, napa, and now here and a new 'community' in maine. i see no employee housing covenants included in docs at rosemary or draper lake. the slack will have to be addressed by the county. they'll end up being a landlord of apt style housing units that will be the only place the above mentioned employees can afford. hopefully the county will wake up soon and demand a portion of density be directed towards workforce housing.

leucadia article
http://www.workingwaterfront.com/article.asp?storyID=20051105

jr

The county did direct Joe to include AH before approving WaterSound North. But I don't believe specifics were addressed other than number of units.

 

[Smiling JOe]

The county did direct Joe to include AH before approving WaterSound North. But I don't believe specifics were addressed other than number of units.

...and "affordable housing" really does not address housing for the service labor pool. It is more likely to be geared toward management, but at least it is a start.

 

[beachmouse]

Semi-local here. We moved down here in 1998, and have been living next county over since then. The first place we lived was on Okaloosa Island, and we paid $600/month to rent a two bedroom townhouse just across the way from the Best Western that was like a minute's walk to the beach. When units went up for sale in our building, they were going for $60-$70K. We thought it was really cool that middle class folks could live so close to the Gulf, and that even though pay was pretty terrible in some ways, housing was cheap enough that a service industry couple could still afford to buy a home not too far from work.

Funny how things change so quickly.

 

[John R]

that's good to know kurt, thanks. what needs to be figured out now is what is considered to be affordable housing; - multi-unit dwellings for hourly workers, - deed restricted, max resale cap single family homes, or - smaller sq foot dwellings that will be slated as AH, but will be snapped up by those in the know before the common joe even knows they're available.

jr

 

[Uncle Timmy]

OK...great. Now we've established a starting point. Since you know these folks personally what are they saying?

Seems like you're the guy on the ground...let us know what "real world" research you've collected and we can start from there. I'm ready to focus!

No, I'm not the starting point. My perspective is too limited due to the fact that most of my friends have been here a long time and are comfortably established.

But, I can understand the help a well researched line of reasoning on this topic would be to new arrivals/business owners.

That is why I am asking the question instead of answering it.

 

[Smiling JOe]

that's good to know kurt, thanks. what needs to be figured out now is what is considered to be affordable housing; - multi-unit dwellings for hourly workers, - deed restricted, max resale cap single family homes, or - smaller sq foot dwellings that will be slated as AH, but will be snapped up by those in the know before the common joe even knows they're available.

jr

The gov't has a definition for "affordable housing" and it is based on income levels of people in the particular county. The last time I saw the numbers, most houses falling into that category would still be somewhat "unaffordable" to young service employees wanting to purchase a home. You can probably do a search to find the numbers for WalCo.

 

[SHELLY]

No, I'm not the starting point. My perspective is too limited due to the fact that most of my friends have been here a long time and are comfortably established.

But, I can understand the help a well researched line of reasoning on this topic would be to new arrivals/business owners.

That is why I am asking the question instead of answering it.

Now...if they could just find a place to live in SoWal for $816 per month (including utilities) and a job that pays $15.68 per hour employees would be on Easy Street.

It Says Living in Walton is Cheap!

Now let's move on to buying medical insurance and 401K funding.

 

[montana]

well, what about the development on S. Church street in Santa Rosa. Those are entry level homes at best and if that is the standard set around here...I'll pass.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

Now...if they could just find a place to live in SoWal for $816 per month (including utilities) and a job that pays $15.68 per hour employees would be on Easy Street.

It Says Living in Walton is Cheap!

Now let's move on to buying medical insurance and 401K funding.

Very helpful link.

I noticed however, that you quoted the state numbers.

For the FWB/Crestview/Destin area the Fair Market Rent for a 2 bedroom place is $628. And the corresponding hourly rate was $12.08.

I doubt anyone can find a 2 bedroom apt. in sowal for $628/month but if we believe the data, those places are available within a 30-45 min commute of us.

Interesting, Maybe this will be of help to someone.