Housing in Goochland

 

Goochland is a land of contrasts, especially in terms of housing options. They range from high rise apartments and multi-million-dollar mansions in the east end to farms and modest dwellings toward the west.  It’s no secret that housing prices—in large part due to land costs—are high.

The notion that “if you can afford to live in Goochland, you can’t afford to work here” is all too true for many people.  A perceived dearth of “affordable” housing is often cited as a detriment to hiring and retaining good teachers, deputies, and first responders. More data is needed to determine if this is indeed the case, and if so, what price point is “affordable”?

Some contend that in a county with one of the highest per capita incomes in the country— Wikipedia ranked Goochland number 50 at $79,547; the U.S. Census bureau puts our 2019 median household income at $89,741—everyone should have adequate housing. The income numbers are misleading—they are determined by dividing the number of residents, about 23,000 including children, by the total income of all of those who file income tax returns. This income data does not reflect real world conditions here.

New “dwelling units” under construction in the county including single family homes; town houses; and apartments carry hefty price tags, which put them out of reach for many Goochlanders.

The GVA Housing Committee, a group formed to study the issue, working with GoochlandCares, which has secured grant funding to retain an outside consultant to gather input. A survey https://gvahousingneeds.questionpro.com/ has been created to gauge community views on the subject. Please participate.

May the members of the GVA Housing Committee use their creativity and common sense to deal with this issue in a way that enhances existing communities and shuns the heartbreak of dehumanizing subsidized housing.