POST FALLS, Idaho — The City of Post Falls is getting ready to update its comprehensive master plan to accommodate the growing housing need of the area.
According to the city’s Housing Needs Analysis Report that was adopted by the city council Tuesday, housing is largely unaffordable for many local workers.
Post Falls residents stated in a November focus group that property values have increased significantly from around $325,000 pre-COVID to around $516,000 today. This is higher than the approximately $458,000 median home value for the state.
In 2023, 66% of the residential units in Post Falls were owner-occupied. Currently, nearly two-thirds of senior renters in the city are cost-burdened and spending over 30% of their income on housing.
Workshop participants said they don’t just want more rental units, though. Some wanted more opportunities for homeownership in the forms of townhouses or condos rather than just increasing apartments available for rent.
The report says the city will need nearly 2,400 more housing units in the next five years to account for the rapid population and job growth of the area.
One key finding of the report is that Post Falls growth has far surpassed Kootenai County’s growth since 2000. Most of the homes in the city were built in the last 35 years.
This housing report will play a key role in the city’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update, informing the city council’s decisions on zoning, development and affordable housing initiatives.
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