City of Arkansas City, City of Winfield and Cowley County Economic Development Partnership Announce County-Wide Housing Study

County-Wide Housing Survey

The City of Arkansas City, the City of Winfield, and the Cowley County Economic Development Partnership announce a new collaborative effort to engage Hanna:Keelan Associates of Lincoln, Nebraska, to update the Cowley County Housing Study last completed by Hanna:Keelan in 2014. The updated study will provide essential insights to guide future housing development throughout Cowley County.

The Comprehensive Housing Study is a vital tool for working with developers, builders, and grant organizations. It will help create a strategic framework for future housing development that meets the needs of residents across all income sectors. The updated plan is set to be completed by April 1, 2025.

As part of this effort, an online citizen engagement survey tool will be available throughout February to gather feedback from residents and businesses across Cowley County. This survey is an important component of the study, as it will provide valuable input on the housing needs and preferences of the local community.

The update includes evaluating the existing Comprehensive Housing Study priorities outlined as follows:

• Analyze Housing Needs: The study will assess the current housing situation in Cowley County, including the demand for both owner-occupied and rental units for various populations, including the local workforce, elderly, students, and special populations.
• Educate & Energize Leadership: A key goal is to energize the leadership of Cowley County, encouraging them to take an active role in improving and creating both market-rate and affordable housing options.
• Identify Future Housing Needs: The study will help determine the future housing needs for the county, ensuring that housing development aligns with growth patterns and demographic changes.
• Design Housing Programs: The study will provide the foundation for specific housing projects aimed at meeting the needs of the local workforce, retirees, families of all sizes and income levels, and people with special needs.
• Support Downtown Housing & Redevelopment: The study will focus on the development of housing and redevelopment projects in downtown Arkansas City and Winfield, Kansas.
• Introduce Innovative Housing Programs: The study will explore new and innovative housing programs well-suited to Cowley County, addressing immediate and long-term housing needs.
• Ensure Fair Housing: The study will identify and work to eliminate barriers to fair housing opportunities for all citizens of Cowley County.

This housing study will include both qualitative and quantitative research activities. The qualitative component will include community engagement through various surveys, including a Housing Citizen Survey, a Workforce Housing Survey, and a Stakeholder Housing Survey. The latter targets realtors, chambers of commerce, builders, bankers, housing authorities, and other key stakeholders, including the Cowley County Acts Housing Committee and Cowley House of Hope.

Quantitative research will be gathered from multiple sources, including census data, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the county’s population, income levels, housing demand, and overall housing profile.

The City of Arkansas City, the City of Winfield, and the Cowley County Economic Development Partnership are committed to working together to ensure that the updated Housing Study provides the necessary data and strategies to help guide the development of safe, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions for all Cowley County residents.

Click here for more information on the housing study and to participate in the online survey.