In Queensbury, New York, manufactured housing has scored a victory.
According to the Post Star, the town received word that a new state law will require it to allow the manufactured homes in residential districts.
The law, which originally passed in 2015, allows for any single-family manufactured home that “appears similar to other homes” to be included.
“This is the catch: if it fits in aesthetically with the character of the neighborhood,” said Supervisor John Strough.
“Now, traditionally, mobile homes [sic] are not allowed in your traditional residential district. Now, you cannot zone out manufactured homes.”
New York state law now refers to so-called “mobile homes” as manufactured homes. As Daily Business News readers are already aware, most references to “mobile homes” by publications are incorrect, as the last mobile home was built in the U.S. in 1976. For a more detailed history on the journey from mobile to manufactured homes, please click here.
With the news, town officials say that they are now struggling to implement the law.
“The difficult part is if it fits in with the character of the neighborhood,” said Strough.
“Your opinion? My opinion? The neighbors’ opinion? Who does decide? What if it has a homeowners’ association?”
It appears that the decision could be left to the town code enforcer or the Planning Board.
“I can see some issues,” said Strough. “We’re going to be forced to deal with it.”
According to state lawmakers, the law was designed to promote more affordable housing. Town attorneys are researching other municipalities to see how they are handling the integration.
Same Old Stereotypes?
The Daily Business News, MHProNews and MHLivingNews have covered the case for manufactured housing as a viable solution to hope for the American Dream of home ownership at a reasonable price extensively, including Bloomberg making a statement to the same effect.
The myths, and the facts surrounding manufactured housing abound. To learn more, including why manufactured housing is the solution hiding in plain sight for many to achieve the American Dream, click here. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
