reduction in standards is really intended to expand opportunities by way of allowing for different housing types to be constructed on a wider range of lots,” Cherek said. Another potential cost-saving measure for the code update involves increasing flexibility around the processes builders need to navigate to get a project off the ground. Schweigl said the new code includes more streamlined processes like by-right development, which dictates predetermined standards for projects and keeps them moving forward. As with most things, however, none of these potential solutions are easy fixes. For Genin, the appeal of a more flexible code comes from its transparency. “It provides a better understanding and allows the end user the ability to read the code a lot better,” he said. “So you actually have an understanding of what you’re getting into before you go into that development process.” And while he sees this change as a way to hopefully help reduce potential liabilities and risks on the front end of a project, Genin remains cautious about potential cost reductions. Implementation will matter, he said. Processes that still require upfront costs for developers may not help reduce overall costs. The new zoning code is also still only one piece of a financial puzzle that also sees the cost of things like construction materials and labor increasing. “It’s honestly hard for any authority, chamber, association or builder directly to solve it alone,” Van Kirk said. “There’s so many factors contributing to it that it’s a very layered problem.” IT TAKES A VILLAGE Layered problems require layered solutions. For Van Kirk, this means pulling in as many perspectives as possible. “Everything we touch in society touches something else, it’s the ripple effect,” she said. “We do need to know what the small business community thinks. We need to know what our big business community thinks, as well as our commercial developers. We need to know what nonprofits think. We really do need to know all of this so we can pay attention to what the demand specifically is.” South Central Wisconsin Builders Organization (SCWBA), is one outlet for local builders to get their voices heard, Van Kirk said. And for the zoning code rewrite in particular, she said that SCWBA has created contractor-driven focus groups to help hone in on the changes that would be most beneficial in the new code for local builders. Forward Janesville has been proud to collaborate with SCWBA in these efforts to ensure that the ideas, concerns and lived experiences of local builders are brought to the attention of the city as it formulates the new code. Cost continues to be one of the predominate concerns for builders, Van Kirk said. And although many builders try to offset costs by adjusting their business models, it’s often not enough. Because of this, SCWBA, and many builders independently, were among those prompting the city to add more flexibility to the updated code. “It needs to be flexible enough so that as needs change, demands change, taste and quality and types of housing opportunities and interests change, our builders can build what the consumer needs and wants, not just what the zoning says it can,” Van Kirk said. Forward Janesville has also provided an opportunity for builders to voice their opinions on the code update through the formation of its GRC Zoning Work Group. The work group, chaired by Genin, has worked closely with the city as it drafts its new zoning code. “We’ve been reviewing the code as it’s gone through the process,” Genin said. “We’ve asked the city questions, and we’ve provided our feedback on the code. We have also given them our thoughts and things that we would recommend changing. The city has been taking those into consideration. The work group’s feedback to the city has included recommendations on everything from where to allow mixed use to what size setbacks would be most beneficial in different residential areas. For Genin, digging into the specifics of the code rewrite has become an important aspect of this committee. While more general input from the public is clearly beneficial, Genin said the committee’s role is deeper than that. “Our engagement has really been to take a little bit more of a technical approach and provide some feedback on what’s actually been read,” Genin said. Although the new zoning code is not yet finalized, Janesville could get a taste of some of its proposed features through a 55-acre parcel of land at 2400 Beloit Ave. “As we've been working through this code update, we have been thinking about that property and a number of others and trying to think through and ensure that the new code can deliver upon the vision that's been established in concept for that site,” he said. Sage’s company is one of the developers that has taken an interest in the project, and Sage said he hopes to see more green space incorporated into the design. “I’m hoping they can put a swing set up,” he said. “A play area for kids.” BRINGING BACK THE AMERICAN DREAM The city isn’t the only entity tackling the difficult housing market. Both ECHO and SCWBA have found ways to bring more affordability and access to the market. Jessica Locher, executive director of ECHO, Inc., has seen a huge shift in housing in her nearly 22 years on the job. “I’ve seen one-bedroom apartments that were available in the $400 to $500 range, and now we’re seeing them in the low thousands,” she said. “And that’s just 10 | FORWARD JANESVILLE The Jeffris Flats were purchased by ECHO from the YWCA in 2025 with support from the City of Janesville. ECHO’s acquisition of the flats enabled these historic homes to stay affordable for Janesville residents.
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