Yountville Commons Workforce
Housing
Market Research Options
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 Background
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 • BAE presented a financial analysis of the Commons project and two possible housing unit mixes at the 2/17 Study
Session
• One option focused on studios/one-bedrooms, while the other included two-bedroom units in response to employer interest.
• The project targets the “missing middle” (≤120% AMI) with rents around 60–80% AMI, supported by local funding.
• Larger units reduce revenue per square foot, weakening project economics but expand potential demand.
• Council requested more market research and data before deciding on the final unit mix.
Market Research Already Completed
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 • The memo summarized market data used to
evaluate unit mix options for Yountville
Commons.
• Data sources included employer focus groups,
business owner interviews, housing
supply/occupancy data, and American
Community Survey data.
• Research for Town’s preference policy for
residents also informs unit mix.
• Findings show strong local demand for all housing
unit sizes.
Market Research Options
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 • Additional research options include:
– Third-party data collection
– Employee focus groups
– Employee surveys (online or in-person)
• These methods can be combined to gather more
complete information and address stakeholder
requests.
• Council may choose additional research and analysis
not included above.
• Town Council will consider expanding BAE’s contract to support further research, analysis, and financial
modeling for the project.
Market Research Options Costs
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 Option 1
Additional Third-Party Data Collection $2,500
Employee Focus Groups (2) $14,000
Total BAE Cost $16,500
Option 2
Additional Third-Party Data Collection $2,500
Employee Focus Groups (3) $21,000
Online Employee Survey $12,000
Total BAE Cost $35,500
Option 3
Additional Third-Party Data Collection $2,500
Employee Focus Groups (3) $21,000
In-Person Employee Survey $75,000
Total BAE Cost $98,500
Market Research Considerations
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 • The focus of the research is for Phase I of the
Commons that can be implemented using local
funding. The unit mix selected will not dictate the unit mix for future phases.
• Using existing data (ACS) is faster and cheaper but
provides less detailed insights.
• Primary research (surveys, focus groups) provides
better detail but can be costly and time-consuming.
• Any surveys conducted must be unbiased and
anonymous and results should be balanced with real
market data. There are practical limitations to
achieving a statistically representative survey sample.
Requested Approach
Town of Yountville • Yountville Commons Workforce Housing • March 2026 • The first phase is small (~40 units). Overall project is designed to be flexible and phased, allowing unit mixes to change over time.
• Data from existing projects in the area (e.g. Burbank Housing) can help inform design decisions.
• Decisions on the first phase unit mix should balance
market research, financial feasibility, and policy
considerations.
• The Town Manager is requesting authorization to
increase BAE’s contract to support additional research
per direction by Council this evening, plus additional
financial modeling, and project planning support.