What is "affordable housing"?  Many people believe that the name implies substandard homes or multiple dwellings built with government subsidy.  This is not the case.  Affordable housing simply means homes that are affordable to someone receiving average pay.  Most homes built in Collier County today, whether single family or condominiums exceed the reach of people like teachers and firemen who often make less than $30,000 per year.  A debt free individual at such a salary may only qualify for a mortgage of $100,000 - far below the cost of the average new home. 

The County should mandate that, when each PUD or DRI is approved, the approval should include a requirement that affordable housing be built simultaneously, by that developer.  This housing should be some percentage of the number of DUs to be built.  For commercial space, this should be linked to the square footage and worked out by our County Planning Departmentt.  This should be a fixed requirement and not related to the potential jobs to be generated - or anything else.

The affordable homes need not be on or adjacent to the development, although this would be desirable allowing people who work in the development would live nearby.  The homes could be units for sale or rent, as the developer chooses; after all, the developer is paying for it.

Benefits

Young families, professionals at the beginning of their careers, and first time homebuyers can live close to where they work.   The county gets needed housing without public involvement.  Growth Pays For Growth.  No public subsidies.