The Iron Range will need an additional 722 to 2,712 housing units by the end of 2013 to accommodate growth specifically caused by proposed or pending development projects, according to a study released Tuesday.
"Iron Range Housing: Planning for Growth" was prepared by the St. Paul-based engineering and planning firm Bonestroo for the Range Readiness Initiative's housing team.
"We're taking the first important step of looking at the condition of our existing housing stock and what we might need for new housing," housing team chairwoman Mary Ives said. "It's going to give us the hard data we need in making critical decisions."
The firm examined housing needs in 31 communities and 54 townships covering more than 2,000 square miles along the Highway 169 corridor in Itasca and St. Louis counties.
Iron Range Resources launched the Range Readiness Initiative last year. The public-private collaboration is working to address issues such as work force, housing and other needs associated with potential growth if large-scale mining develop-ments and other projects happen.
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According to three different scenarios, growth could range from 1,940 permanent jobs to 6,150 permanent jobs. Temporary jobs would also number in the hundreds.
Much of the Range's housing stock need repairs.
Failing to preserve the Range's existing house stock could force a greater need for additional construction. Of the region's 40,728 single-family houses, 12 percent need major repairs, 5 percent are functionally obsolete and 2 percent are dilapidated.
Of the area's 7,291 multi-family rental units, 26 percent are substandard.
Developing "regional strategies to preserve the Iron Range's existing housing stock," is a challenge, the study said.
Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman said there is significant room for demolishing or renovating older homes.
"We have an older housing stock, especially in the Central and Eastern Iron Range," Layman said. "There are opportuni-ties to do some smart development through reuse and rehabilitation as well as new housing units."
The housing market assessment was released during a Range Readiness Initiative event attended by approximately 240 people in Grand Rapids. Range Readiness Initiative also unveiled a new Web site featuring up-to-date information on nine major economic development projects. The site is at http://www.rangereadiness.com .
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"Its intent is to keep people in the region informed on the progress of the projects," Layman said. "It's a news and infor-mation Web site as well as a great one-stop resources for housing, education, training and job opportunities."
