Affordable Housing

Rent Down 3.9% for Apartments in the Nation's Capital
After years of rising rents D.C., 2017 brought a bump in new apartment supply and a dip in apartment rents around the city.
Seattle Public Hearing on Affordable Housing Surprisingly YIMBY
Fort Lawton, an affordable housing proposal including over 200 units, got a warm reception at a meeting in Seattle.

AIA: Demand for High-Density Development Is Down
For the first time in four years, a quarterly survey indicates “market saturation in urban areas.”

Marin County's Resistance to Growth is Keeping Housing Prices High
The median home value in Marin County is well over a million dollars, thanks in part to the county and its residents keeping low income housing and development out.
More on those Freeway-Adjacent Affordable Housing Developments
The Los Angeles Times follows-up an earlier article on the dangers of building too close to freeways. It's a trade-off that the California Air Resources Board acknowledged last April with new guidelines that recognize the dire need for housing.

New York's Homeless 'Cluster Sites' to Become Affordable Housing
Conceived as a stop-gap measure, New York City's cluster site program essentially pays landlords to house homeless people. Now, Mayor de Blasio wants to convert some of those sites directly into affordable units.

Colorado Tax Mandates Will Continue to Hurt Rural Areas
When home values rise, the state constitution requires cuts to residential tax rates that severely impact less-developed areas.

California Funds Housing Near Freeways Despite Air Pollution
A Los Angeles development for homeless vets could be great news for a city in desperate need of housing, but some worry that the apartments put vets in harm’s way.

More Fallout on Affordable Housing from Tax Bill
While the low income housing tax credit was retained, banks will be much less willing to purchase them due to their reduced corporate tax rate. That's just one way H.R. 1 will exacerbate divisions between the rich and poor in America's cities.

Seattle Redoubles its Funding Commitment to Affordable Housing
A new levy and a new housing bond enabled new levels of spending on affordable housing in Seattle.

D.C. Steps in to Buy At-Risk Affordable Housing
In the interest of preserving affordable supply, the District can purchase apartment buildings that would otherwise sell to private developers.

Los Angeles Adopts 'Linkage Fee' for Affordable Housing Funding
Los Angeles is the latest city to adopt a "linkage fee" that charges new development to generate funding for affordable housing, joining cities like Seattle, Chicago, and San Jose.

How to Create More Affordable Housing in Philadelphia
Eliminating parking minimums and reforming Philadelphia's tax abatement program could do a lot in making Philadelphia affordable, Inga Saffron argues.
Explained: Keys to Affordability in Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances
Zoning ordinances are one of the most powerful ways local governments regulate development, and they should work to implement the policies in a Comprehensive Plan Update.

Milwaukee Can't Require Affordable Housing in Privately Financed Developments
State law required an affordable housing plan making its way through the Milwaukee City Council to be drastically reduced in scope.
Complying With New State Laws on ADUs No Easy Matter
Santa Rosa is struggling to complying with two laws passed last year to encourage construction of inlaw units to increase affordable housing. Council members are concerned that loosened restrictions would degrade neighborhood character.

South L.A. Community Plans Tackle Gentrification
As public and private investment grow in South L.A., new community plans mark a victory for local organizers seeking to prevent displacement.

Philadelphia's New Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Hangs Up in Committee
Philadelphia's controversial "Mixed-Income Housing Program" legislation has run into stiff resistance from developers and builders.
Vacancies Come in All Forms, Even New Affordable Apartments in Brooklyn
A 298-unit, 18-story tower in Pacific Park Brooklyn opened its doors to new renters in various categories of affordability over five months ago. 27% remain empty in the higher income tiers, and unlike market-rate units, the asking rent won't drop.

Editorial: Congress Should Extend, Not End, Tax Exempt Bonds for Affordable Housing
The Seattle Times says there could be no worse time than right now to repeal tax exempt bonds that help finance affordable housing.
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