The Utah housing market has expanded due to a population increase, and Cedar City is no exception.
With Southern Utah University’s enrollment reaching an all-time high and Cedar City growing almost 4% annually, the need for housing has increased.
Last year in Cedar City, properties close to SUU campus were rezoned from residential to the SUU student housing district. This change provides housing for the more than 15,000 students currently enrolled.
“What’s destroying our neighborhoods is we don’t have enough student housing where the kids want to live,” shared Cedar City Mayor Garth Green. “It makes the supply low and the demand high, and they’re gonna go wherever they can.”
Along with local leaders, state officials are also aware of the issues. Gov. Spencer Cox is prioritizing efforts to make housing more affordable.
“Everybody understands that we want our kids and grandkids to have a place to live,” said Gov. Cox. “But everybody also agrees that we want to build where we can’t see it. We just don’t want it around us.”
Cox recently started on a 275-unit starter home project in northern Utah. He said this is the beginning of the state’s 2024 legislation that will provide low-interest loans for developers building affordable homes.
The state of Utah is expected to have an annual growth rate of 1.5% per year. Gov. Cox encourages community members to say “yes” to new housing developments to supplement this increase. “Every time we say ‘no’ to reasonable development, we are the selfish generation,” said Gov. Cox.
Author: Natalie Anderson
Photographer: Anna Mower
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
