City leaders hope a new affordable housing law will increase the supply of affordable units in the city, but critics say the policy may lead to reduced construction and higher housing costs.

As Matthew Rothstein reports for Bisnow, "On Jan. 18, Mayor Jim Kenney signed into law Philadelphia City Council Bill No. 210633, which requires any new residential buildings of 20 units or more to set aside 20% of those units for affordable housing." The new mandatory inclusionary zoning law only applies to portions of two council districts, prompting questions about unintended consequences like displacement and gentrification.
According to Rothstein's article, "The Olde Kensington overlay created by the law overlaps with HACE’s service area, where a heavily Latino population is feeling the pressure of an ongoing wave of development bringing higher-income households to the area." Rothstein cites critics of the law who say that "Philadelphia housing doesn’t achieve the market-rate rents and home prices necessary to keep development going in the affected areas."
In an article in the Fairfield Sun Times, M. Nolan Gray argues that "Between high construction and land costs – in addition to the new mandate that developers give up a fifth of all the units they produce – it’s likely that few developments, if any, will prove viable." Gray points to examples from other cities: "Since adopting a similarly aggressive ordinance in 2016, Portland has seen new multifamily permit applications plummet." According to Gray, "Indeed, to the extent that mandatory inclusionary-zoning programs act as a major new tax on housing development, they have been found to drive up housing costs."
Gray provides a series of recommendations that include "allowing more housing construction in high-opportunity neighborhoods with ample access to jobs and transit" while also finding more effective uses for existing assets like city-owned vacant lots. "To avoid the fate of other high-cost cities along the northeast corridor, Philadelphia must keep its current housing boom alive, while being smart about preventing displacement and adding new affordable housing."
FULL STORY: Philly's First Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Law Is Official, And It Takes Effect In 6 Months

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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