By Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz
Guest Column
Housing is one of the most pressing issues facing our country today. As Housing Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I hear from mayors across the country who are confronting the same challenge: housing supply has struggled to keep pace with demand. That imbalance, combined with rising construction costs and high mortgage rates, is making housing less affordable for families and making it harder for communities to attract the people and workforce they need to grow.
This is not just a national issue. It directly affects Toledo’s future. Our goal is to grow Toledo to 300,000 residents by 2045, and we cannot reach that goal without creating more places for people to live. We need housing options for young professionals buying their first homes, families looking for more space, seniors who want to downsize and workers considering a move to our city. We also need to make it easier for developers and investors to turn vacant and underutilized properties into homes that strengthen our neighborhoods.
That was the focus of our first BuildToledo Housing Development Summit today, where we brought together developers, builders, investors and community partners to discuss opportunities to expand housing across Toledo. We are working to reduce barriers, make the development process easier to navigate and put practical tools in place to help projects move forward. Our tax abatement programs, housing initiatives and pre-approved housing plans are all part of that effort.
Every neighborhood is different, and Toledo needs a range of housing options that reflect the needs of our communities. The City cannot do this alone. We need strong partnerships with the private sector, honest conversations about the challenges developers face and a shared commitment to turning opportunities into completed projects.
At the summit, I announced the formation of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon PRO Housing Advisory Committee. The committee will bring developers, builders and industry leaders together with me quarterly to discuss progress, identify obstacles and develop practical solutions. I want the people who understand the realities of building housing to have a direct voice in shaping our approach and helping us make progress.
Housing is fundamental to the future of Toledo. If we want to grow our population, strengthen our neighborhoods and create more opportunities for families, we have to make it possible to build more homes. We have the assets, the partners and the opportunity to make that happen. Now we need to keep working together to turn that opportunity into results.
Let’s build homes. Let’s build neighborhoods. Let’s build Toledo.