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Cisneros Tells Builders to Prepare for Latino Surge
With recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicating that Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the country, with an additional 2.1 million Latino families expected to enter the housing market by 2010, Henry Cisneros, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, told builders that they need to be prepared to meet the housing needs of this growing community.
“Eighty-eight percent of Latino families say that their definition of the American dream is owning their own home. This is the highest percentage of all minorities,” Cisneros, chairman of CityView, said at an International Builders’ Show seminar on Feb. 7 in Orlando, Fla.
Demographic data project that from 2000 to 2050, the U.S. population will rise from 281 million to 403 million. Over that period, Hispanic growth will register the greatest surge, from 35 million to 98 million, a net gain of 63 million. By contrast, white/non-Latino growth is expected to rise by just 17 million and the African-American population will increase by 25 million.
Cisneros said this presents a great opportunity for builders who learn to design homes and plan communities that attract and support the lifestyles of the swelling U.S. Latino population.
Latino families tend to be large and multi-generational, he said, with more workers per household than other demographic groups, presenting implications for home design.
For example, in building for a typical Latino family, Cisneros suggested that at least three to four bedrooms are needed. In accommodating a multi-generational floor plan, there should be one bedroom on the main level, and eliminating an enclosed garage can be the trade-off for an extra bedroom.
He suggested that kitchens should incorporate a deeper sink (for more dishes) and a gas range because many traditional Latino recipes require an open gas flame.
Tiles, decorative colors and the use of arches to add a “Mediterranean kind of feel” capture the Latino spirit in home design, he added.
As for the outside of the home, a long driveway is a plus because there are generally more workers per household. In addition, Cisneros said that “Latino families love to grow plants,” so a patio space is a major plus.
For multifamily housing, Cisneros suggested the following:
- Family-sized apartments
- Additional 3/4 bathroom-shower
- Insulation — for noise attenuation
- Durable materials
- Child-proof windows
Ideally, apartments should also be located near public transportation lines, with schools and parks nearby.
Growing Latino markets encompass areas all across the country. Breaking them down by region, Cisneros listed the following markets:
- Northeast: New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Hartford, Conn.; Albany, N.Y.; and Providence, R.I.
- Mid-Atlantic: Washington, D.C.; and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
- Southeast: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Tampa, Fla.; and Atlanta
- North-Central: Chicago; Milwaukee, Wis.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit; Kansas City; and Minneapolis/St. Paul
- South Central: San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston, Texas; New Orleans; and Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Mountain West: Denver, Las Vegas; Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz.; Salt Lake City; and Albuquerque, N.M.
- Pacific West: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Fresno, Sacramento, Modesto and Stockton, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle
To learn more, order “Casa y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design," from builderbooks.com.
 Are You Prepared for the New Emerging Market?
"Casa y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design,” available through BuilderBooks.com, takes the first-ever look at the growing and increasingly prosperous U.S. Latino community and its housing needs and helps all segments of the housing industry to understand and prepare for this emerging market.
The publication was written by Henry G. Cisneros, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and founder and chairman of CityView, which partners with home builders to provide workforce housing.
To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
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