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regs could
boost housing
The recent trend in Atlantic hurricanes has led to a number of new regulations that make homebuilding in Brunswick, Horry and New Hanover counties even more cumbersome and expensive.
A recent story in the Star-News noted that homes in coastal counties may be subject to new regulations that would require window shutters on every new or significantly renovated home or apartment.
That kind of thing drives developers crazy – and it also drives them to other areas.
Combined with the skyrocketing cost of land in coastal counties, Columbus stands to benefit from the need for affordable housing.
It’s a common story across the country: growing urban or resort areas struggle to provide housing for their blue-collar or service workers because of costs.
Columbus County traditionally has concentrated on providing incentives for industrial recruitment. That’s necessary, but economic development officials may also want to make overtures to area developers to promote interest in the advantages of putting housing in Columbus County.
Often, these developers invest millions in larger projects, and, the county would add population.
With Bolton currently working on a sewer project that will connect to the Whiteville system, plus overtures from Horry County to run a water line to the Pireway area, Columbus County would be smart to begin investigating how it might facilitate new housing projects on the easterern and southern ends of the county.