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PARK CITY -- A new ad campaign in Park City is trying to convince residents that allowing affordable housing projects in the area will help their community.
Posters and flyers around Park City have a picture of a nurse with the words, "She can save your life, but she can't live next door."
It is part of the "Live. Work. Play." campaign started by a number of Park City groups to gain acceptance for affordable housing projects, something the city government and others have been pushing for quite some time.
"Fire fighters to teachers, medical professionals are having trouble finding affordable housing here in Park City and Summit County," says affordable housing advocate Julie Bernhard, who is with the Park City Board of Realtors.
She says there's the ‘not in my backyard' mentality, with people afraid affordable housing will lower property values and increase traffic and crime and reduce open space.
Bernhard says they are trying to calm those fears and help residents understand that many local workers are having a tough time living in the community and that they will start going elsewhere if they can't afford to live in the community.
Advocates say Park City will be better if more rank-and-file workers are able to live locally, citing more diversity and a decrease in commuter traffic.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
