Supporting Wise Growth: Housing Affordability
- Jason McGuire
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 10
We have all seen the headlines about housing affordability and many of you, like me, have wondered how your kids (or grandkids) are going to be able to afford a home. And the truth is there is no quick cure to housing affordability in the Salt Lake Valley. The reality is there is a shortage of single family homes in Utah estimated to be between 30,000 to 40,000 units, the amount of buildable available land is selling at premium rates, interest rates are higher than we grew accustomed to, and builders continue to face inflation on construction material and demands for higher wages. It's going to take some time to make housing more affordable and that is why I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to champion housing affordability in South Jordan such as:
Altitude Development:
Originally proposed as a 100% rental project, I opposed the plan and pushed for more homeownership opportunities. After continued advocacy, we secured a 60/40 split in favor of for-sale units. They plan to have condos start around $365,000, and the developer is working to align some of the townhomes to fit within Utah's First-Time Homebuyer Program.
Senior Housing and Senior Center
In September 2023 the city announced that in collaboration with Ivory
Innovations we are working to provide a new senior center with affordable housing, I'm happy to announce this project will be built in The District and the plan is to break ground in 2026. This project will utilize the city’s redevelopment funds to build approximately 200 units, 75% or more of which will meet affordable housing guidelines calculating rent prices based on 60%-80% AMI (Average Medium Income).
KSL: https://ksltv.com/local-news/south-jordan-senior-center-affordable/829846/
Bingham Court Townhomes:
In April of 2021 we unveiled South Jordan’s first ever subsidized workforce housing development in partnership with Ivory Homes. Within the Bigham Court Townhome development nine townhomes were reserved especially for workers who are city employees, police officers, and school teachers. Each of the nine homes were subsidized by the city’s redevelopment funds and sold $100,000 below market value and are deed restricted so they will remain affordable housing. Learn more about this project at: https://blog.ivoryhomes.com/articles-details/celebrating-new-housing-for-frontline-workers
Downtown Daybreak HTRZ
South Jordan passed the states first Housing Transit Reinvestment Zone (HTRZ) to help expedite the construction of Downtown Daybreak which will create 500 affordable housing units, encourage the use of transit, and help generate economic development. And unlike other HTRZ’s that have since been passed it does not increase our sales tax rate to pay for any of the development.
RioTinto Annexation
With the land RioTinto Annexed into South Jordan, I insisted it be a mixed housing type development that will have a variety of price points to ensure it meets South Jordan’s housing needs.
Often in the housing affordability discussion the focus is on how many new housing units can get built, so it is critical we have leaders who can recognize the importance of building community and housing that people want. Housing that strengthens people, families, and our community’s future.
That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for:
Starter homes
Smaller-lot single-family homes, Townhomes, and Condos
Projects that qualify for Utah’s First-Time Homebuyer Program
And if I’m re-elected, I will continue pushing for innovative, practical solutions that balance wise growth with housing affordability—ensuring South Jordan remains a place where families can live, grow, and thrive.
