Last week, Portsmouth community leaders released Redeveloping in the Comeback City: A Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for Portsmouth, Ohio. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the market rate and affordable housing markets in the City of Portsmouth. This comprehensive housing market analysis is intended to provide community leaders with resources to complement the housing conversations and policy initiatives already underway, and serve as a touchstone to guide local leaders in their continued efforts to address the housing needs of the community.

Situated on two busy rivers, the City of Portsmouth quickly became one of the most important industrial cities between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The twentieth century ushered in a period of decline, but local leaders have recently taken impressive steps to revitalize the riverside community.

Leaders in the City of Portsmouth identified housing as an important component of city’s revitalization journey, launching a comprehensive housing analysis as a first step to understand housing conditions across the city. The Scioto Foundation, the Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), the City of Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority (PMHA) engaged the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) to analyze market rate and affordable housing conditions within the municipality.

The eight-month study period was guided by a multi-sector Advisory Committee representing government, nonprofit, and private sector leaders from across the city advised on the research. Research included a deep dive into the city’s demographic profile, an analysis of market-rate conditions, a look at the supply and demand for affordable housing, and several interviews with expert stakeholders in the community. As part of the report release, a public meeting was held July 23, 2021, as well as a virtual briefing to City Council and staff on September 20, 2021.  In these meetings, residents and city leadership were able to provide feedback on the findings and recommendations.

Redeveloping in the Comeback City makes 16 recommendations, organized in 5 priority areas, that build on existing assets to enhance housing in the City of Portsmouth. The priority areas are:

• Ensure the City is Open for Business

• Understand the Quality of Portsmouth’s Housing Stock and Pro-Actively Work to Stabilize It

• Protect Homeowners and Occupied Homes

• Secure Future Opportunities through Site Control

• Stabilize and Rebuild the Market

Head over to the GOPC Publications page to check out the full report.