Peter Reichard: Can Utah bring in new housing types without ruffling feathers?

January 27, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Those struggling to get developments done often use the acronym NIMBY – not in my backyard – to describe opponents of their plans. While it may serve as a useful shorthand for neighborhood opposition to projects for the common good, in many cases it may also be unfair. Most Americans’ wealth is tied up in their home, a home that they often choose because of the quality of life the neighborhood offers. To routinely throw … Continued

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Utahns Overwhelmingly Prefer Single Family Homes Says a New Report

January 18, 2022 (NewsBreak) - According to a recent analysis from the Utah Foundation, an independent research organization, 72 percent of respondents said that “style is the most significant element in their home choices.” What’s that look like? You’ve guessed it, single-family detached dwellings. According to the foundation report, 45,000 people in Utah are missing out on the country’s hottest housing market because of rising costs caused by the redevelopment of old properties. Despite the obviousness of this, the report … Continued

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How do you make middle housing more appealing in Utah? Make it look like a single-family home

January 17, 2022 (KSL.com) - When it comes to middle housing, you’ve got to have style. A recent report from the Utah Foundation, an independent research group, shows that 72% of respondents say “style is the most important factor in their housing preferences.” And the style is? You guessed it, single-family detached units, extra points if the garage is not visible. While Utahns’ preference for single-family homes seems like a statement of the obvious, the report also fleshes out a … Continued

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How do you make middle housing more appealing? Make it look like a single-family home

January 17, 2022 (Deseret News) - When it comes to middle housing, you’ve got to have style. So says the latest report from the Utah Foundation, an independent research group, that shows in new surveys that 72% of respondents say “style is the most important factor in their housing preferences.” And the style is? You guessed it, single-family detached units, extra points if the garage is not visible. While Utahns’ preference for single-family homes seems like a statement of the obvious, … Continued

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Opinion: 5 things Utah lawmakers have done well through the years

January 16, 2022 (Deseret News) - … Legislative appropriations — Congress and most states have appropriations committees that make spending decisions. A few people work out the details of the budgets and decide which programs get funded. Spending plans are finalized with only a few details debated; there’s just not enough time to go through them line-by-line. In Utah, though, every member of the House and the Senate sits on one of seven joint appropriations subcommittees. Each of them is given … Continued

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The Utah Foundation talks “middle housing” on Fox 13

January 11, 2022 (Fox 13) - Shawn Teigen spoke with Keith Chalmers from the Fox 13 News Assignment Desk about small multi-family housing development. The discussion focused on development history, development preferences, and the transition to townhomes — not all of which have the walkability that “Missing Middle Housing” envisions.

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“Middle housing” could solve Utah’s housing crisis

January 11, 2022 (KUER) - According to a recent study released by the Utah Foundation, middle-sized, multi-family houses like townhomes could help solve Utah’s housing problem. The foundation’s president said it’s critical to widen avenues to entry-level ownership, but the costs of houses and rents are skyrocketing in the state. The report shows that “middle housing” could be the answer. The median price of a townhome is about 29% lower than the cost of a single-family home. So the foundation … Continued

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Tell us your thoughts: Is Utah one happy family, or two warring states divided by faith?

December 29, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - “All in all,” declares a recent report by the Utah Foundation, “Utah performs impressively on the measures of participation in community life.” Those measures — ranging from charitable giving and church attendance to volunteerism and neighborhood participation — have been used for years to gauge the health of American democracy. The report draws on the work of distinguished Harvard professor Robert Putnam, and The Salt Lake Tribune decided to speak with Putnam and Utah native … Continued

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Utah’s housing crisis: Could an answer be in your backyard?

December 27, 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune) - For Tessa and her one-year-old daughter, the rental market may be the only lottery going in Utah. As a single parent working a full-time job, Tessa has little spare time. For the last month, that time has been spent hunting for a modest two-bedroom rental in Salt Lake City. “It’s been challenging to say the least,” said Tessa, who requested we only use her first name out of fear it would hinder her from getting … Continued

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Opinion: Utahns score well on the ‘art of association,’ except in this category

December 20, 2022 (Deseret News) - Going back to Alexis de Tocqueville’s monumental study of the American character in the 1830s, the U.S. has been known for what the Frenchman called our “art” of association. He noted not only “commercial and industrial associations in which all take part,” but also that Americans participate in groups that are “religious, moral, grave, futile, very general and very particular, immense and very small.” But those studying the American art of association find that it … Continued

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Peter Reichard: Utah’s housing numbers draw a double-take

December 16, 2021 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Astonishing. Jaw-dropping. Mind-blowing. When it comes to housing price increases in Utah, the exclamations could just keep flowing. The cost of housing in Utah has been skyrocketing. Median home prices increased by 15.4% in 2020 and even further in 2021 – with a year-over-year appreciation of 29% at September. Yes: 29%. That’s not a typo. And Utahns have noticed. Recent Utah Foundation research reveals that more than 80% of Utahns perceive home prices and rents … Continued

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Study: Utahns rank among most generous states in the country

December 15, 2021 (ABC4) - UTAH (ABC4) – As the holiday season is in full swing, the season of giving typically comes hand in hand. For Utahns though, it looks like that idea stays year-round according to a new study. A report by the Utah Foundation tracking social charity in Utah shows the state consistently ranks among the top in the country when it comes to charitable deeds. The report, The Art of Association: Community Life in Utah, aims to … Continued

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Art Turner to become new Utah Foundation Chair

December 13, 2021 (UtahPolicy.com) - Today, the Utah Foundation announces its new board leadership for 2022. Current Chair Chad Westover, CEO of University of Utah Health Plans, has completed his term and will remain on the Executive Board as Immediate Past Chair. Vice Chair Dan Eldredge is retiring from his position as General Manager with the Intermountain Power Agency and is departing Utah Foundation’s board. The new officers are: Art Turner, Vice President/Gen. Manager of Enterprise Holdings, will serve as … Continued

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Good news for Utah homebuyers: Prices may have peaked. See where.

December 11, 2021 (Salt Lake Tribune) - A separate study by the nonprofit Utah Foundation found that more than 80% of Utahns believe home prices and rents are too high. Most survey respondents said they couldn’t afford their own homes if they wanted to buy them at today’s prices… A recent Utah Foundation study highlighted rent hikes from January 2019 to July 2021 of more than 50% in Utah and Davis counties.

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Wasatch Gazette conversation about growth

December 12, 2021 (Wasatch Gazette) - Christopher Collard spoke with Mike Parsons about the Utah Foundation’s four Significant Statistics posts on growth in Utah. The conversation was part of the Wasatch Gazette that plays on Sundays on: B98.7 KBER101 K-Bull 93.3 860am Power94.9 Listen to the interview here.

Utah outpaces the nation in community participation

December 07, 2021 (KUER) - When it comes to participation in their community, Utahns tend to outpace the nation. That’s based on the latest report released Tuesday by the Utah Foundation. It found the state gives more in charitable donations and volunteering than the rest of the country. It also takes the top spot in religious service and neighborhood project participation. However, Utah ranks near the bottom when it comes to membership in professional and non-professional organizations. Those include things … Continued

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Report finds Utah top in the nation for volunteerism and churchgoers, but attendance is declining

December 07, 2021 (Fox13) - A new report shows Utah has the best community life in the country in many ways, but the worst in one way. The report, titled “The Art of Association: Community Life in Utah,” examines how membership in associations has long been part of American culture, though it’s been in a long-term decline. Utah was second to South Dakota in the percent of people contributing to charities. Utah was clearly first in the three categories of … Continued

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Report finds Utah top in the nation for volunteerism and churchgoers, but attendance is declining

December 07, 2021 (Fox13) - A new report shows Utah has the best community life in the country in many ways, but the worst in one way. The report, titled “The Art of Association: Community Life in Utah,” examines how membership in associations has long been part of American culture, though it’s been in a long-term decline. Utah was second to South Dakota in the percent of people contributing to charities. Utah was clearly first in the three categories of … Continued

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Utah Foundation: Growth in Utah

December 06, 2021 (UtahPolicy.com) - The Utah Foundation released the last two parts of four Significant Statistics on Utah’s growth. Part III examined population growth as it is related to transportation infrastructure, water infrastructure, air pollution, education and housing. The details are here. Part IV looked back to the Utah Foundation’s Priorities Project survey that asked whether Utah should take actions to limit population growth in urban areas. About 41% of Utahns agreed while 29% disagreed. Read more here.

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Opinion: Can a Democrat ever win a statewide race in Utah again?

December 03, 2021 (Deseret News) - The political class loves to analyze and dissect trends and nuances affecting voters. We perform our own dissection of a recent survey conducted by the respected think tank Utah Foundation regarding political ideology of Utah voters.   Using methodology employed by the Pew Foundation on a cross-section of American voters, the Utah Foundation retained Y2 Analytics to measure the political ideology of Utahns. To no one’s surprise, a great deal of polarization exists between members … Continued

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Partisanship in Utah

December 02, 2021 (City Weekly) - Think you know all you need to know about political partisanship in Utah? It’s all GOP, right? That’s pretty much the case, according to Ballotpedia. “Utah has a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, attorney general and both chambers of the state Legislature.” It’s daunting to be a Democrat, or certainly a third party in this state. And the country as a whole isn’t much different. “As … Continued

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