Understanding the logistics of attainable housing can be difficult. Many hear the word affordable or attainable housing and automatically think “quick flip,” “substandard development” or even “government housing,” but the truth of the matter is that it is none of that.

Attainable housing refers to housing that is within reach for a particular population, typically in terms of affordability. It is rooted in providing housing solutions that are affordable without imposing an excessive financial burden on the residents. Efforts to promote attainable housing often involve collaboration between the government, developers and community organizations to address the housing needs of diverse income groups.

As housing prices increase, service workers, including teachers, firefighters and health care workers, are often left on the sideline and homeownership becomes a distant reality. Developers continue to work to create new innovative financing options to make housing attainability more of a reality for these workers. Developers of Gregorie Ferry townhomes in Mt. Pleasant create attainable housing units to benefit nurses, teachers and healthcare workers. Developments like these bring employees closer to their jobs and allow them to create financial wealth at an affordable cost.

Planned attainable housing is structured so that the buyer purchases units at an affordable price. There is usually some kind of deed restriction with the purchase agreement (up to 99 years) that makes the unit affordable long-term. As housing prices continue to rise, it is essential that government and private sector developers create unique opportunities for service workers to live in close proximity to their employers.

Mt. Pleasant has a unique opportunity to create more attainable housing units to benefit the growing education, healthcare and economic development communities. While there are restrictions in place to limit development, the potential for attainable housing, like Gregorie Ferry, can provide an opportunity for local teachers to live closer to work. Two of the largest private sector employers in Mt. Pleasant, East Cooper Medical Center and Roper St. Francis Healthcare, have continually voiced their need for more attainable housing to meet the growing demands of healthcare workers.

Currently in Mt. Pleasant, there is a site located within three miles of six schools, two fire stations and the upcoming $30 million public works building, which could bring a host of attainable housing units to the area. With the site’s current industrial zoning, developments like storage units or even a truck stop could be built, increasing the amount of large truck traffic within the community.

With the help of the Mt. Pleasant Town Council, this site, if rezoned, can bring attainable housing units to enhance the local community. While this is just one development within our region, it can begin to create much-needed solutions to the attainable housing challenges in one of the most expensive housing markets in the Charleston metro region.

This is just a glimpse of what can happen when the government, public and private sectors work together and listen to the voices of local businesses and community members. We must do all we can to supply more attainable housing units for the workers who keep our communities thriving, healthy and safe.