HOUSING ASSESSMENT & STRATEGY WORKSHOP

The City of Greer held a council workshop on May 13, 2026, focused on a housing assessment and strategy report presented by the planning and development department and consultant Civotas LLC. The discussion centered on the city's rapid population and employment growth, housing market conditions, and affordability challenges. Civotas LLC was selected through a competitive solicitation as the lowest and most innovative bidder to conduct the housing needs study. Key findings included a strong pipeline of residential projects, a significant portion of renters facing cost burdens, and a projected demand for 2,800 additional housing units by 2030. The workshop explored policy tools and incentives to promote affordable and workforce housing, including rental inspection ordinances, housing trust funds, leveraging city-owned land, and flexible development standards. The council discussed the need for additional staff resources to manage housing development and emphasized the importance of political will to implement strategies. No specific contract awards or budget allocations were made during the meeting, but several procurement-related recommendations and potential future initiatives were identified to support affordable housing development in Greer.