A recent article in The Tribune described an emerging development in southern Utah that will include pools with surflike waves. The article appropriately focuses on the way Zion Shores will put additional pressure on the water shortage in Washington County. There is another aspect of this project that reflects an even broader problem.
Housing will be part of the development, but it will be largely short-term, luxury rentals. Similarly, the accommodations being built at extravagant, private ski resorts in Utah, will be second, third or fourth homes or condolike rentals.
All this construction caters to wealthy families. They are not permanent residences and add nothing to the state’s inadequate housing inventory. Each time a unit is occupied, another one will be vacated somewhere else.
The underlying problem is that too many people have too much money to spend on unnecessary luxury accommodations. Real estate developers are complicit, since it is more profitable to build one opulent home than several smaller, more affordable ones.
Given the large representation of real estate interests in our Legislature, the situation is not surprising. It demonstrates, however, a distinct lack of seriousness about resolving the existing housing shortage.
Dana Carroll, Salt Lake City
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