Like many counties in Ohio, Champaign County leaders are eager to retain and attract residents and employers, but believe the county’s current housing stock does not sufficiently meet demand.  As a first step to improving housing options, The Champaign Economic Partnership commissioned the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) to analyze the market rate and affordable housing markets in Champaign County and its four largest communities: the City of Urbana and the Villages of Mechanicsburg, North Lewisburg, and St. Paris.

Open for Business: Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for Champaign County, Ohio, presents thoughtful policies to preserve existing housing stock and encourage new market rate housing building and development within the four focus communities. The report makes 23 recommendations, organized in 6 focus areas, to enhance housing in Champaign County’s communities. The focus areas are:

• Rally Stakeholders and Sustain Commitment

• Prioritize Downtowns and Main Streets

• Open for Business: Ensure Local Governments are Strong Partners to Development

• Protect Existing Stock and Prevent It from Declining

• Tap Into Creative, Patient, Financing Strategies

• Maintain Affordability

Champaign County exists on the periphery of the Dayton, Springfield, and Columbus MSAs, making it an attractive “homebase” for several significant population centers and employment hubs. A concentration of regional employers in Urbana, as well as stable household incomes and high homeownership rates across the county are major assets, but the lack of new development has begun to affect the ability of the county to attract residents and businesses.

A challenging task at hand, Champaign County’s communities must be equipped to serve residents of broad socioeconomic demographics, age groups, family sizes, backgrounds, and needs. GOPC’s analysis intends to serve as a resource for community leaders as they implement thoughtful policies for the housing needs of Champaign County.