Mosaic Ridge Creating Housing Opportunity

Partnerships and Collaboration

Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting Elsa. It was Elsa's moment and her time to shine! As I stood there listening to speakers celebrate yet another milestone for District 10, I couldn't help but reflect on my homeownership journey: from doubling up with my friend's family in their small two-bedroom apartment to a duplex on Frish Road, a four-unit on Balsam Rd, the townhomes in Odana Road, and finally, our forever home.

Yesterday, we celebrated the completion of the last two lots of the Mosaic Ridge project. This project, a significant milestone for the Allied Drive community, Mosaic Ridge, was designed to bring homeownership opportunities to a neighborhood historically facing housing challenges. It also demonstrates that single-family homes can coexist with multi-family choices.

Completing the last two lots demonstrates that the sky is the limit when people unite to work on a just cause. In 2022, Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) co-applied with the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (WPHD) for the City of Madison Housing Forward Homeownership Request for Proposal (RFP).

The City agreed to sell each lot to WPHD for $1, with the condition that they use the MACLT land trust model to keep both homes permanently affordable. WPHD hired Threshold Builds to construct the two houses. MACLT found two buyers below 80% AMI to buy these homes. These buyers also sign agreements to keep the property sale price at 80% AMI in the future.

Olivia Williams from MACLT explained, "This partnership model can be replicated throughout the City: the City can use its land banking authority to acquire and give land for affordable housing development and require that it be kept permanently affordable. The City will have a 99-year Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA) on these properties in addition to the homes being in the land trust, ensuring they stay affordable to families below 80% AMI for generations."

Parallel Journey

As I was taking in Elsa's excitement and the vibe from the people who were there sharing the moment, Mayor Rhodes Conway stated, "What we need all across Madison is for people to have the opportunity to choose the type of housing and the neighborhood they want to live in." Those words took me back to 1996. Our son was just a couple of months old, and I wanted a piece of that American dream for him. My husband and I had looked at houses for sale in Madison, Mt. Horeb, Cross Plains, Oregon, and everything in between. Every weekend, we were out, looking for our forever home.

I remembered Jesse driving through the West Side neighborhoods we aspired to live in near work, with access to transit, but there was no way we could afford those houses; after months of searching, it became so frustrating that I gave up. But Jesse had one more stop to make; we left the West side behind and headed to the other side of the Beltline. The moment we arrived, I felt that excitement that Elsa was experiencing today; this was the place! We walked into the open house and learned that we qualified for a restricted income program run by Operation Fresh Start. Did we choose this neighborhood, or did the neighborhood choose us? I'm not sure! The lack of understanding about mortgage loans gave me enough confidence to believe we had found our new home. Our realtor enrolled us in a mortgage class and held our hand through the application process. Our son was four months old when we moved in.

It takes a village

Everyone deserves the choice and opportunity to decide where to live. And the option of having a mortgage or renting. As an alder, I hear from people who have forgotten what it feels like to choose a home or to have a home choose them. They seem to have lost touch with the feeling of butterflies in their stomachs, the fears, and even the stress of taking on a large loan like a mortgage for the first time. Or the anxiety of high rent down payments. I sincerely appreciate those who take pride in their neighborhoods and actively participate in keeping them safe & beautiful. That is what being a good neighbor is all about! However, somewhere along the way, we often forget to create an inviting atmosphere for new homeowners, renters, and housing-type developments.

There is a National housing shortage particularly in Dane County, and a significant need here in Madison. We require various housing options, from homeownership to rental units, with affordability ranging from low income to market rate and spaces that fit the needs of single individuals, families, and seniors aging at home safely.

We have published study after study because Madison loves to study its problems. We like to pile up reports year after year. In the meantime, other municipalities around the County are duplicating the tools Madison has put in place to promote growth.

• Affordable Housing Fund increases
• One-year extension of the Tax Incremental Districts (TID) to fund affordable and workforce housing
• Tax Increment Finance (TIF) incentives
• Land banking policy
• Purchases of vacant or underutilized land for land banking opportunities
• Down payment assistance for First-time Buyers
• Challenge the zoning code restrictions to remove barriers and promote growth in every district.
• Promote Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
• Downtown Height Incentives for Affordable Housing to support student's housing needs
• And the list goes on . . .

We have the tools, but it takes a village to solve this shortage. Our collective actions can help us increase our housing stock to meet the needs of our rapidly growing City. I am even more inspired today to continue to create housing choices. Join the efforts, educate yourself on city policy, and be part of the solution. To learn more, check out the City's Housing Tracker website and take a drive to Allied!