Housing
| Introduction | 2 |
|---|---|
| Part 1 Housing Today | 4 |
| Part 2 Future Housing Need | 10 |
| Part 3 Goals, Objectives and Actions | 19 |
| Introduction | 2 |
|---|---|
| Part 1 Housing Today | 4 |
| Part 2 Future Housing Need | 10 |
| Part 3 Goals, Objectives and Actions | 19 |
Planning and developing housing for current and future residents is something that affects every resident of East Baton Rouge Parish. Maintaining a healthy balance of well-planned housing and jobs is important for the long-term sustainability of the region. Well-planned and balanced housing means that Baton Rouge residents have homes that they can afford and are able to choose from a variety of housing styles, sizes and neighborhoods. From a more long-term perspective, it also means ensuring housing availability and affordability that will keep people in Baton Rouge and attract new residents and jobs to the City-Parish. Creating housing options that answer the needs of East Baton Rouge’s diverse population, while sustaining and supporting existing neighborhoods, will result in a more prosperous, vibrant and inviting city.
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Today, East Baton Rouge Parish is not meeting the demands of current types and varieties of housing choices of all residents. The housing element identifies the housing market segments that are well-served in East Baton Rouge Parish now, as well as those that will meet the needs of target segments in the City-Parish’s future population. As demographics within the country and Louisiana change, East Baton Rouge Parish must ensure that its housing profile is well matched to meet the needs of the City-Parish’s future population and economy. If East Baton Rouge Parish cultivates a balanced housing mix that builds on emerging market dynamics, it will have a major competitive economic advantage over its peer cities.
A diverse group of residents and stakeholders representing all parts of East Baton Rouge Parish provided input through workshops, open houses, interviews, focus groups and survey discussions. Respondents consistently cited the following core values and aspirations they believed should be the foundation for building a vision for East Baton Rouge Parish.
Core values that relate to housing:
Equity: All residents have access to a good education, public services, housing and job opportunities. Safety: People feel safe where they live, work and play. Diversity: The City is known for embracing diversity and accepting other cultures, ethnicities and groups. Strong neighborhoods and communities: Neighborhoods in all areas of the City-Parish are desirable places to live and have a range of housing types and nearby amenities to serve the City-Parish’s residents.
Sustainability: The future reflects the creativity and resiliency of East Baton Rouge’s residents and offers a sustainable place for citizens to thrive – with a focus on building a future based on fiscal, physical, environmental, economic and equitable sustainability.
The first step in planning housing that will meet East Baton Rouge Parish’s future needs is to evaluate existing housing stock and compare it to housing preferences and affordability. Housing affordability is commonly defined as spending not more than 30 percent of gross household income on housing. By this definition, many renters and owners live in housing they cannot afford.1 According to the Mayor-President 2023 State of the City report, 52% of East Baton Rouge residents spend more than one-third of their income on housing.
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Spanish Town
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Ogden Park
Housing affordability certainly goes beyond just housing costs and income. It also directly relates to transportation costs of getting around. People living in low-density housing on the periphery of a region rely almost exclusively on cars as the primary mode for transportation, often travelling many miles for everyday needs. These households are particularly vulnerable to fuel price shocks and traffic delays. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has pioneered today’s evolving definition of housing affordability as it relates to transportation. CNT found that combined housing and transportation costs should be less than 45% of gross household income in order to be affordable.2
In East Baton Rouge Parish, the average expenditure for housing and transportation in East Baton Rouge Parish is 48% of median household income.
By increasing transportation and housing options to address changing market demands, the City-Parish will go a long way toward creating many affordable neighborhoods. East Baton Rouge Parish has an opportunity to plan today for housing in neighborhoods that are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists and that are served by transit.
Factoring in both housing and transportation costs provides a more comprehensive way of thinking about the cost of housing and true affordability.
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Average Housing and Transportation Costs: East Baton Rouge Parish. Source: H+T Index, 2019.
Conventionally, housing was determined to be affordable if it consumed no more than 30% of a household’s income. Affordability is more accurately measured by considering housing and transportation costs. According to the Housing and Transportation Index, on average housing and transportation costs comprise 48% of income in East Baton Rouge Parish; housing costs 25% of income, while transportation costs 23% of income.
| Housing Costs | Transportation Costs | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $13,536 | $12,483 |
| 2019 | $14,532 | $13,732 |
Source: H+T Index
Part 1: Housing Today
In recent years renting has become an increasingly desirable, and in many cases necessary, option for individuals and families. Within the Parish, more than half (55%) of African-American households rent, compared with 39% of white households.1 An increasingly mobile workforce values flexibility; renting allows for flexibility and choices that homeownership does not. Younger households and students contribute greatly to rental demand. Renter occupied units made up of 44% of residents under 35 years old.2 This trend is projected to continue over the long term.
Forty percent of the Parish’s housing is renter occupied. As of 2015, renter-occupied median household income was $29,729, compared to $69,865 for owner-occupied median household income. Both represent moderate increases from $25,370 for renter-occupied, and $63,792 for owner-occupied respectively, since the comprehensive plan was originally adopted in 2011.
The median gross rent in 2021 was $990, a $148 increase from the monthly gross rent in 2015. In 2021, the median gross rent is $11,880 and the median housejold income for renters is $33,987, which causes those making less than the renter-occupied household income to spend more than 30% of their income.3
Approximately 51% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s renters spend more than 30% of their incomes on housing. Unaffordable housing costs have most greatly affected renter households earning less than $15,000, making them particularly prone to overpaying – spending anywhere from 35% to 50% of their incomes on housing.4
| Gross Rent as % of Household Income in Past 12 Months | Estimate | Percent of Population |
|---|---|---|
| Total: | 68,175 | 39.79% |
| Less than 10.0 percent | 3,709 | 2.16% |
| 10.0 to 14.9 percent | 5,101 | 2.98% |
| 15.0 to 19.0 percent | 6,881 | 4.02% |
| 20.0 to 24.9 percent | 6,286 | 3.67% |
| 25.0 to 29.9 percent | 6,225 | 3.63% |
| 30.0 to 34.9 percent | 5,317 | 3.10% |
| 35.0 to 39.9 percent | 4,483 | 2.62% |
| 40.0 to 49.9 percent | 5,630 | 3.29% |
| 50.0 percent or more | 18,369 | 10.72% |
| Not computed | 6,174 | 3.60% |
Source: American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates
The above chart tabulates gross rent as a percentage of household income in the past 12 months and estimates the number of households in each grouping. Of the 18,369 households, or 11% of the renting population, monthly gross rent is 50% or more of household income, which mean that households are spending more than what is affordable. This is a slight decrease from the last five year update which was at 12% of renters.
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Motor City Apartments
American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates ↩
American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates ↩
American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates ↩
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/housing-costs-burden.html ↩
Part 1: Housing Today
Most of the owner-occupied housing in East Baton Rouge Parish is detached single-family, which suggests an opportunity to build more compact single-family housing types that include townhomes, condos and cottage homes. In 2021, 60% of housing in East Baton Rouge Parish was owner-occupied households, the same from 2015. The EBR median household income is $58,167. The EBR median household income for owner-occupied households is $84,266, which is over a $14,000 increase since 2015.
Within the Parish, 62% of households with a white householder are owner-occupied, whereas 33% of households with an African-American householder are owner-occupied.1 In addition, age plays a key role in homeownership within the Parish. In 2021, 10.9% of households with a householder under the age of 35 were owner-occupied, compared to 21.5% of those with a householder between 55-64 and 20.5% for 65-74. According to the Prosperity Scorecard, the homeownership rate is 60.2% in East Baton Rouge Parish, 67.3% in Louisiana and 65.4% in the U.S.
Consumer research by Arthur C. Nelson at the University of Utah, Robert Charles Lesser and Company (RCLCO) and others shows that consumers increasingly demand denser housing. If local and national trends hold true, much of East Baton Rouge Parish’s future demand for ownership units will be dwellings with smaller footprints on smaller parcels. These products could run the spectrum from basic entry-level condos for first-time homebuyers to luxury townhomes and detached smaller single-family homes.
Part 1: Housing Today
| Occupied Housing Units | Owner-Occupied Housing Units | Renter-occupied Housing Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 171,349 | 103,174 | 68,175 | |
| Household income in the past 12 Months | |||
| Less than $5,000 | 4.80% | 2.40% | 8.50% |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 3.10% | 1.50% | 5.50% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4.50% | 2.30% | 7.90% |
| $15,000 to $19,999 | 4.70% | 2.70% | 7.70% |
| $20,000 to $24,999 | 5.40% | 3.30% | 8.60% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 9.10% | 6.50% | 13.10% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 12.10% | 10.00% | 15.20% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 16.50% | 16.40% | 16.60% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10.10% | 12.00% | 7.10% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 14.00% | 19.10% | 6.30% |
| $150,000 or more | 15.70% | 23.80% | 3.50% |
| Median Household Income (dollars) | $58,167 | $84,266 | 33,987 |
Source: American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates
The chart above tabulates household income in the past 12 months by occupied housing units and owner-occupied housing units. As the chart demonstrates, owner-occupied housing tends to have higher incomes than renter-occupied housing.
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The Lakes at Harveston
American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates ↩
American demographics are shifting, and Baton Rouge is certainly no exception. One of the biggest of these demographic shifts is declining household size. Decades ago, the housing market was focused on providing single-family housing that met the needs of families with children. Today, the majority of new homes are one- and two-person households. The occupants of these small households may be any age – ranging from students and young professionals to retired seniors. In particular, aging baby boomers are a huge and growing group whose housing must be met.
Urban Land Institute (ULI) recently published Housing in America, a report that summarized the four demographic groups that will drive the new housing market nationally over the next several decades:
RCLCO’s national housing research specifically suggests that Millennials may be the largest target market for the urban housing types. People in this generation seek housing that is pedestrian-oriented, convenient, and within a diverse and balanced neighborhood. The research estimates that 77 percent of Generation Y plan to live in an urban core. In order to grow and retain its share of regional growth, East Baton Rouge Parish will specifically need to attract Millennials and encourage recent LSU and Southern graduates to stay after graduating. Additionally, many baby boomers will seek housing that is convenient, social, and low maintenance – another prime urban target.
The demographic diversity within the Parish points to the need for East Baton Rouge Parish to provide life cycle housing – a concept designed to allow a people to live in the same neighborhood through all phases of life. Apartments, condos, townhomes, and some compact single-family homes can be designed for a household’s entire life cycle. These housing types are described further on the next page.
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The Reserve at Howell Place rendering
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Commerce Building
Part 2: Future Housing Need
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Fieldhouse Condos
Multi-family housing – with two or more units – has become stigmatized in East Baton Rouge Parish and other parts of the country as only a low-income rental housing type. However, a number of successful multi-family developments, at a range of price points and scales, are helping to break this stigma. East Baton Rouge Parish’s future multi-family housing will be designed to fit into the scale of the existing neighborhoods. For example, mid- and high-rise units would be reserved for downtown Baton Rouge or other higher density neighborhoods. And while most multi-family units in East Baton Rouge Parish today are renter-occupied, changes in future demographics point to high demand in the future for both high-quality rental units and owner-occupied condominium units.
In addition to multi-family in single-use buildings, many cities have developed areas with mixed-use buildings that include both commercial and residential uses. Mixed-use multi-family units are combined with ground floor retail or office space, usually on a main street or transit corridor. They typically feature internal access so the street frontage is reserved for storefronts. These buildings can be owner or renter occupied. In some cases they could also provide student housing near Louisiana State University, Southern University or Baton Rouge Community College.
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Beltline
Townhomes are generally two to three stories tall and are designed to fit well in many types of residential neighborhoods, including as neighborhood infill housing. Townhomes can also be clustered around environmental constraints such as slopes or bodies of water on parcels that could not effectively support single-family development. Townhomes can vary considerably in design and architectural style, and may be either owner or renter occupied.
Live-work units are similar to townhomes but are designed to combine residential and small business space. The “work” area is typically located on the ground floor and features large windows and flexible spaces for offices, retail or services. The “live” area is typically on the upper floors. Live-work units are well-suited for the needs of neighborhood and personal services.
Manufactured home is a structure built to the standards of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that is transportable in one or more sections designed for use as a dwelling built on a permanent chassis and designed for use with or without permanent foundation when connected to required utilities.
The “missing middle” refers to housing types between detached single-family homes and large apartment buildings. This includes duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and small apartments.
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Old South Baton Rouge
Many residents of Baton Rouge will be seeking a single- family option. With this in mind, East Baton Rouge Parish has an opportunity to develop new single-family homes on lots under 5,000 square feet in size. Some small lot single-family designs include homes oriented around a communal courtyard or cottage-style homes. Others are designed in more traditional patterns. These smaller lot single-family homes would be primarily owner occupied.
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a standalone (i.e., detached) single-family home. ADUs can be converted portions of existing homes, additions to new or existing homes or new stand-alone accessory structures. They often called granny flats, elder cottage housing opportunities (ECHO), mother-daughter residences or secondary dwelling units. There are many benefits to ADUs, such as providing the opportunity to offer an affordable and independent housing option to a relative who is younger and just starting out on their own or to an elderly parent who may need assistance close by. ADUs can also be leased out to unrelated individuals which can serve as supplemental income, which can offset the high cost of housing.1
Part 2: Future Housing Need
The national movement toward addressing climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions will have broad implications for East Baton Rouge Parish’s housing sector. The housing types described previously have lower energy costs and a lower carbon footprint, even those houses built using conventional materials. This is due to smaller unit sizes, new materials with high-quality insulation, and shared walls in many of the units. Homes designed with energy efficient features not only reduce energy use, but also save residents significant money every month.
While it is certainly important to develop energy efficient features in new housing, the reality is that the majority of the City-Parish’s housing in 2030 will be some variation on the housing stock that exists today – meaning that the City-Parish must actively work with homeowners and renters to increase the energy efficiency of existing homes. East Baton Rouge Parish should explore opportunities to partner with the private sector to expand these efforts in the future. To protect against nature’s powerful forces, housing must incorporate the latest building techniques to handle weather extremes. A common strategy is to elevate housing structures using approved fill and/or a solid structure to ensure sites are well above base flood elevations. If possible, providing freeboard tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that contribute to flood heights exceeding calculated expectations.
The need for resiliency is nowhere more evident than in the aftermath of the devastating flood event of August, 2016, which inundated approximately 35,000 structures in East Baton Rouge Parish. The heat map on the following page illustrates the geographic concentrations of flooded residential structures in East Baton Rouge Parish. Sustainable and resilient building practices, such as the elevated structure pictured above can ameliorate some of the devastation caused by more frequent and intense rain events. Another challenge for East Baton Rouge Parish’s housing stock is age of housing. According to the Mayor-President 2023 State of the City report, nearly half the homes in the Parish were built before 1970, making the median home age over approximately 50 years old.
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Tall Oaks - Elevated Home to Protect Against Flooding
HOUSING Part 2: Future Housing Need
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The cities of the future will serve as magnets for creativity. Baton Rouge is well-positioned to expand its role in this arena – and will likely be competing with other metro areas in the Southeast.
A common thread among economic sectors attracted to the Parish is the need for a high-quality workforce. Baton Rouge’s higher education and research facilities and relatively low cost of living, compared with its competitor cities, are attractive to these well-educated demographics. However, it’s important that the City-Parish also plan for a broad mix of housing types, including the urban types such as townhomes, apartments, ADUs, and condos that are not readily found in the City-Parish today. The City-Parish is commiteed to providing more housing choices that meet the needs of all residents.
High speed Internet access at home is a part of everyday life for many residents in the City-Parish. While most homes in East Baton Rouge Parish have access to broadband, federal data indicates that 21,363 of households do not have an internet subscription (12%)1. It is important that the City-Parish remain aware of the needs of these households in the future. The City-Parish must work to provide internet access for these and other households which, due to lack of training, hardware or funds to afford service, remain disconnected. From an economic development perspective, bridging the digital divide means that residents are able to search for employment opportunities, work from their homes, participate in distance-learning and communicate with friends and others. New technologies can lead to an increase in home-based businesses, which means fewer transit trips and cars on the road at peak hours.
American Community Survey 2021 5-Year Estimates ↩
Part 2: Future Housing Need
Even cities that already host a robust housing mix are not always adequately planning for their future housing. The housing demands of East Baton Rouge Parish’s future market segments will differ from the housing demands of the past and become of demographic shifts.
To tie these housing trends with East Baton Rouge Parish’s future, FUTUREBR included growth scenarios based on an aspirational housing forecast. This forecast shows the City-Parish growing by more than 48,000 households. As such, over the coming decades, East Baton Rouge Parish could expect an average of more than 2,400 new households per year by 2030 – highlighting the critical role housing planning will play for the City-Parish’s future.
According to the demographic forecasts of the U.S. Census and the State of Louisiana (available at the parish level), an aging, population profile is developing in East Baton Rouge Parish, consistent with national trends. Reflecting these demographic shifts, a future housing profile has been forecast for the City-Parish. This housing profile should be considered the midpoint of a range, since the housing forecast and housing needs may vary.
Persons 65 and older in the U.S. is 16.8%, Louisiana is 16.5% and East Baton Rouge Parish is 15.3%. 19% of East Baton Rouge Parish do not have enough affordable housing to meet the needs of residents, leaving 900 residents at risk of homelessness annually and 3,500 people seeking housing assistance services.1 Fifty-eight percent of affordable and housing choice households are with elderly or disabled residents.
Among renters over 65 year old, 58.8% were found to be cost burdened.2 According to the Prosperity Scorecard Now3, the affordability of homes (median housing value : median household income) in East Baton Rouge is 3.6x, Louisiana 3.7x and the U.S. 4.x. “3.6x” means that the median household income in East Baton Rouge Parish is 3.6 times the amount needed to afford a median-priced home. This is higher than the affordability index of Louisiana (3.1x) and the United States (3.3x). In other words, homebuyers in East Baton Rouge Parish need to earn a higher income relative to the home price in order to afford a median-priced home. This can make it more difficult for low- and middle-income households to purchase a home in the parish.
The aspirational forecast points to opportunities to meet East Baton Rouge Parish’s future housing needs at both the lower and upper ends of the market. In particular, developing subsidized affordable housing for households earning less than $25,000 (and preserving the affordable housing options that exist today) will be critical. Equally important will be encouraging the market to provide additional housing options to owner and renter households earning between $35,000 and $100,000 annually. Because these households can afford $875-$2,500 per month in housing costs, a larger range of housing types should become feasible for development.
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Red Stick Lofts
Part 2: Future Housing Need
East Baton Rouge Parish is expected to experience a large population increase of Millennials, the 25-44 age group and the early parts of the 45-64 age groups, in 2030. Additionally, the Baby Boomers moving into their senior years means that East Baton Rouge Parish will need to provide housing for more than 18,000 new senior-led households. Based on the national research summarized above and the forecasts for the City-Parish, a total of 48,000 new housing units will be needed by 2030.
Based on demographic analysis, the mix of housing needed to address future housing needs in 2030 will be different from housing available today. New homes will need to include a large mix of compact housing types. Detached homes will comprise about 57 percent of new units, but most of these will be compact infill styles. Up to 39 percent of new housing will be in the form of compact single-family homes. Attached housing will comprise around 43 percent of new homes. Diverse housing types would fit well in many types of neighborhoods within the City-Parish. Downtown Baton Rouge is a prime area for apartments, condos and some townhomes.
Neighborhoods such as Mid City and Old South have potential for infill mixed-use development, townhomes, and some compact single family. The areas around LSU and Southern University are ideal not only for student housing, but also for people of all ages who are looking for a vibrant, youthful neighborhood. New neighborhoods, such as Ardendale, could accommodate a mix of townhomes and compact single-family homes along with more traditional single-family homes. In short, Baton Rouge must supply a more equitable distribution of housing in the future to meet the needs of every family.
Health equity is defined as the ability to be one’s healthiest self, no matter the race, gender, sexual orientation, status in the community or zip code. However, there are health disparities based a person’s zip code. These disparities are reflected in differences in life expectancy, quality of life, access to health care, disease and infant mortality. The Community Needs Index (CNI) uses data to identify the severity of health for every zip code in the nation and demonstrates the linkage between community need, access to healthcare and preventable hospitalizations.
According to the HealthyBR 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, the CNI score of East Baton Rouge Parish indicates that there are health disparities among residents located in a specific area of the parish. There are seven zip codes located in the northern part of the parish that have a CNI score of 4.2 (70801, 70802, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70811 and 70812), which represents an area of highest need based on income, housing barriers, education and insurance. These seven zip codes represent 29% of the East Baton Rouge Parish population. There is also a stark contrast in neighboring census tracts. For example, Census Tract 22, west of Park Boulevard, has a median home value of $76,900, 35.7% vacant housing units, 31% of the population living in poverty, compared to census tract 23, east of Park Boulevard who has a median home value of $314,400, 17.1% vacant housing units, 5.7% of the population living in poverty.
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Ben Hur
https://healthybr.com/community-health/programs-and-coalitions/housing-first-alliance ↩
Local Outcome Report - East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. Prosperity Now Scorecard ↩
Part 2: Future Housing Need
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) as “Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes.” The Kaiser family Foundation illustrated the categories and subcategories of SDOH of what goes into ones’ health. Socioeconomic factors, such as education, income and job status take up 40%, the physical environment takes up 10%, health behaviors such as diet and exercise and drug use take up 30%, and health care take up 20%. The socioeconomic factors play a huge part considering that East Baton Rouge Parish has 4.4% unemployment rate, 25% children in poverty, 38% children in single-parent households and 5.6 income inequality according to County Health Rankings.
To reach the goal of safe, equitable and sustainable housing, one must pay critical attention to not just where housing is being located but other factors that overall affect human health. Housing located in areas where there is little to no access to crucial services like medical care and grocery stores will lead to an increase of health and income disparities. Not addressing the larger issue of socioeconomic drivers will lead to situating people in poor conditions that are detrimental to human health. Coordinating and collaborating with healthy initiatives, health organizations and stakeholders will foster a better and healthier life for all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish.1
Part 2: Future Housing Need
The Baton Rouge Office of Community Development (OCD) administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families, support for the unhoused, drives disaster recovery efforts, and invests in community development initiatives. In keeping with its mission to ensure that every Baton Rouge resident can obtain safe, healthy, hopeful communities, the OCD prioritizes services to offer solutions to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Due to the nationwide impact of COVID-19, Congress through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) appropriated $5 billion to communities across the U.S. to provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. These funds were then allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME Program) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This special round of funding is called the “HOME-ARP” program. HUD published detailed guidance in the CPD Notice 21-10: Requirements for the Use of Funds in the HOME-ARP Program (September 13, 2021). This Notice establishes all HOME-ARP requirements, as well as the applicable suspensions, waivers and alternative requirements. Funding for this grant must be expended on eligible activities by the year 2030.
While Baton Rouge received an allocation as a Participating Jurisdiction in the Entitlement Program, there was also an additional allocation for the “LA Non-Entitlement” areas that is administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) that we are able to coordinate with to serve the Greater Baton Rouge region. Louisiana was also allocated funding for the “Entitlement” areas or major cities at noted in the table below, which will be administered by the local jurisdictions directly. The overall goal is to cooperate regionally across the state with all grantees to ensure the needs of the vulnerable populations are met in a coordinated way.
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HealthyBR 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment ↩
This section details the housing goals, objectives and actions that will move East Baton Rouge Parish toward the community’s Vision.
Goals are the big over-reaching ideas, changes or practices that are essential to realize the community’s Vision.
Objectives establish specific, measurable, attainable and realistic goals that guide how the Comprehensive Plan is implemented in a way that will achieve the Vision.
Actions outline the steps needed to achieve the objectives.
Create a balanced housing supply.
Objective 1.1 Determine the existing housing conditions and promote a greater range of housing types, sizes, densities, and price points to enhance lifestyle choices, affordability, and diversity.
Actions that support objective 1.1:
1.1.1 Conduct a housing needs assessment to determine the amount, location, condition and cost of rental and ownership housing in East Baton Rouge Parish.
1.1.2 Identify areas where affordable housing is needed.
1.1.3 Provide incentives for revitalization and rehabilitation of existing houses.
1.1.4 Support the development of units for the middle-income market.
1.1.5 Periodically review the effectiveness of housing strategies.
1.1.6 Maintain and monitor a database of housing permit activity, developable land supply, and residential zoning capacity to track progress.
1.1.7 Revise UDC and permit by right small lot development in areas of the Parish where small lots are typical.
1.1.8 Increase appropriately scaled housing supply.
1.1.9 Support the development of affordable housing options.
1.1.11 Encourage the development of non-traditional and “missing middle” housing such as ADUs
Objective 1.2 Leverage partnerships to create affordable housing options.
Actions that support objective 1.2:
1.2.1 Use existing federal, state and local government
Part 3: Goals, Objectives and Actions
programs, public-private partnerships, and incentive programs to identify and meet the housing needs of low- and moderate-income residents.
1.2.2 Research an affordable housing trust fund to help leverage local and federal funds that can be used to create affordable housing.
1.2.3 Coordinate HUD Consolidated Plan recommendations with FUTUREBR policies.
1.2.4 Encourage the use of CDBG, HOME and other HUD funds to support housing goals.
1.2.5 Partner with non-profit housing developers to create high-quality affordable housing.
1.2.6 Develop incentives for private developers to encourage affordable housing and a range of housing prices in private developments.
1.2.7 Continue rehabilitation programs in the form of grants or loans for low-income households.
1.2.8 Simplify the process for acquiring clear title on adjudicated properties (properties that have been placed in state or local government hands because property taxes have not been paid) so that public agencies and private developers can revitalize neighborhoods and create decent affordable housing.
Objective 1.3 Provide supportive and transitional housing for the Parish’s special needs populations.
Actions that support objective 1.3:
1.3.1 Partner with non-profit organizations to reduce homelessness.
1.3.2 Identify the individuals using the most public services and offer them priority access.
1.3.3 Research and provide basic needs assistance for eligible individuals and families affected by disaster, domestic violence, or homelessness.
1.3.4 Continue providing separate transitional services that include housing, education and workforce training for youth under the age of 24, such as the Youth Oasis.
Objective 1.4 Provide many affordable housing options for seniors.
Actions that support objective 1.4:
1.4.1 Continue providing services to senior seeking to “age in place.”
1.4.2 Continue to support the development of new senior housing that is near transit, medical facilities and other services.
Objective 1.5 Encourage higher density housing in downtown, inner neighborhoods and university districts.
Actions that support objective 1.5:
1.5.1 Amend UDC to provide for infill development strategies.
1.5.2 Support LSU, Southern University and BRCC to create new student housing options within walking distance of each campus.
Coordinate housing planning with the region.
Objective 2.1 Coordinate housing planning with long-range land use and transportation planning in Central, Baker, and Zachary.
Actions that support objective 2.1:
2.1.1 Maintain and build strong working relationships with planning staff and commissioners in Central, Baker and Zachary.
2.1.2 Share GIS and housing data with neighboring jurisdictions.
Ensure that the Parish’s existing neighborhoods are stable and strong.
Objective 3.1 Promote a transparent development review process.
Actions that support objective 3.1:
3.1.1 Develop a centralized clearinghouse for neighborhood programs and activities.
3.1.2 Improve communications between the City-Parish and neighborhood associations.
3.1.3 Promote educational workshops on affordable housing development, home repair and homeownership.
3.1.4 Facilitate and coordinate grant applications from housing-related agencies.
3.1.5 Coordinate support services to first-time home owners persons with HIV/AIDS, person experiencing housing challenges.
Objective 3.2 Strengthen neighborhoods that are lagging behind the Parish as a whole.
Actions that support objective 3.2:
3.2.1 Work with the Build Baton Rouge to monitor plan implementation in disinvested areas.
3.2.2 Develop improved procedures to speed up condemnation of abandoned property and provide adequate funding for condemnation and demolition of dilapidated and dangerous properties.
3.2.3 Seek legislation to ensure the ability to attain clear title to properties acquired through the adjudicated properties process.
3.2.4 Promote grant funding for City-Parish neighborhood improvement, including code enforcement and facade improvement.
3.2.5 Continue to reduce blight by using data to give better focus on the needs of the community.
3.2.7 Improve health outcomes and environmental justice by limiting concentration of environmental hazards related to climate change, especially near historically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
Coordinate housing and economic development efforts.
Objective 4.1 Meet the housing needs of major Baton Rouge employment clusters.
Actions that support objective 4.1:
4.1.1 Develop balanced housing targets for the region.
4.1.2 Support the creation of an Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program in which major employers provide incentives for their employers to live nearby.
4.1.3 Ensure that every home has the infrastructure to connect to high speed broadband Internet.
Promote resilient, energy-efficient housing in all neighborhoods.
Objective 5.1 Ensure that East Baton Rouge Parish residents have housing options that result in lower energy and transportation costs.
Part 3: Goals, Objectives and Actions
Actions that support objective 5.1:
5.1.1 Promote sustainable building practices including: energy efficiency, material efficiency, waste reduction, and durability.
5.1.2 Increase affordable housing production, promote investment in disinvested neighborhoods, improve aging housing stock, and encourage implementation of energy efficiency and weather resiliency improvements.
5.1.3 Encourage development in downtown Baton Rouge, the City’s inner neighborhoods, and in transportation-efficient locations across the City-Parish.
5.1.4 Promote transit-oriented developments via housing incentives with transit investments for future bus, bus rapid transit and streetcar lines.
5.1.5 Create a streamlined permitting process to encourage sustainable building practices.
5.1.6 Create development incentives (density bonuses, reduced parking requirements, etc.) for projects that use high efficiency building technologies.
5.1.7 Promote reuse of existing structures and create development incentives for adaptive reuse of existing structures.
5.1.8 Promote building practices that protect from extreme weather and natural disasters.