Pittsburg housing needs discussed at open house [Video]

PITTSBURG, Kan. — People from all walks of life come together to address a common concern in Pittsburg — the lack of housing.

“We can add jobs, we can revitalize our downtown, we can bring in retail but if we don’t have places for people to live, they won’t move here,” said Sarah Runyon, Community Development Specialist for the City of Pittsburg. “Housing is one of the major barriers we have here in Pittsburg for future growth.”

The meeting in downtown Pittsburg Wednesday (10/22) was a mix of housing experts, city leaders, and residents.

The City of Pittsburg has hired a consulting team to assess the latest housing needs.

The most recent assessment was completed in 2014. While some work has been done to address items from that study, Runyon says there’s more work to do.

“We’re looking at a new plan, a new opportunity to really see what’s the …