Understanding the Drivers of Cost

Enterprise Community Partners and the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing launched a new joint research project in September 2012 to examine the various factors impacting the cost of affordable rental housing projects and to develop policy recommendations for developers, financiers, and policymakers.

The project team hosted a series of roundtable discussions hosted in Chicago, Denver, Los Angles, New York City, and San Francisco and additional interviews in Boston, Houston, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Seattle. The roundtables and interviews allowed the project team to engage with over 150 key stakeholders who helped to identify several elements that are common to driving costs in all markets and other items that are local or regional challenges.

The initial results of this work are featured in a new report released at the 2013 ULI Fall Meeting – Bending the Cost Curve on Affordable Rental Housing Development: Understanding the Drivers of Cost. This discussion paper, the first in a series, identifies the most commonly cited cost drivers, provides a brief overview of their impact and applicability, and includes high-level recommendations to promote a more efficient delivery system.

Download the Report

Click here to learn more and stay up-to-date about this initiative.