Page 7 - GSABA Builder Brief - February 2020 issue

I had the privilege to hear Secretary R. James Nicholson speak at the President’s Council. Mr. Nicholson is a decorated combat veteran who left the Army to become an attorney. He went on to represent numerous builders, developers, several local HBA’s along with the state builders’ association in Colorado to fight growth moratoriums, permit limitations, and no growth initiatives for years. Mr. Nicholson then lead the Republican National Committee; he was Secretary of Veteran Affairs and was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a United States Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican City).
His message that we should all serve our community and fight for our industry together to stop those who are intentionally driving up the cost of housing by limiting supply resonated with me.
Soaring construction costs that have been driven up in part by the rise in local government fees and stiffer local zoning restrictions are causing the widening gap in homeownership. Our members and our leadership team will need to start the discussion about providing strong incentives to ease overly restrictive zoning and lower fees for building affordable new homes in areas that are desperate for housing.
Thank you for being a member of GSABA. Please join us for the upcoming Membership Mixer on Thursday, February 20th at Dave & Busters at 5:30pm.
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FEBRUARY 2020 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION