The Hays Daily News from Hays, Kansas reports a housing needs assessment conducted this year reveals there is an abundance of higher-priced single-family homes while a definite shortage exists of affordable, entry-level, senior and student housing. For 2013, a task force comprised of local city officials and economic development personnel will seek input from employers, developers and stakeholders while researching state statutes and existing housing studies to generate policy considerations. Aaron White, a county economic development director, suggests plans for higher density housing by the private sector may be in the offing, noting modular builder M SPACE officials are coming to Hays, located in west central Kansas. He says, “They’re willing to come in and look at the community and look at potential partners, and we’ve identified some folks in the community who are interested in maybe partnering with them.” As MHProNews has learned, M SPACE, headquartered in Park City, Utah, is responding to the need for housing in the Bakken oil boom region of North Dakota, but has also supplied communities across the nation with modular homes.
