The White House made a bold statement earlier this week, taking on the outdated zoning codes and laws, housing and parking regulations, and tax structures that all play a part in discouraging cities — and developers — from building more affordable housing and meeting the demand for more walkable, connected neighborhoods.
Because of the way these outdated regulations and codes interfere with the market and even provide perverse incentives to restrict housing supply, many residents are forced to look farther from a city or in neighborhoods with poor connections to jobs and other opportunities to find housing they can afford, putting a severe restriction on the economic potential of that town, city or region.
While most of these decisions are affected by policies and regulations created and enforced at the local level, the White House took up the cause to address these issues with the release of a 23-page Housing Affordability Toolkit earlier this week that proposes a range of policy changes to make it easier to create more affordable housing and satisfy the demand.
Here are some of the policy changes that the White House recommends:
- Revising zoning codes
- Eliminating off-street parking requirements
- Establishing density bonuses
- Reducing lengthy development approvals
- Taxing vacant land or donating it to non-profit developers
- Allowing multi-family units near transit
The White House’s recommendations urge cities to revise outdated housing policies and provides a helpful roadmap for local jurisdictions who are looking for practical ways to increase affordable housing.
By releasing this toolkit, the Obama Administration aims to strengthen local communities around the nation by encouraging affordable housing and transit-oriented development, giving families access to walkable neighborhoods, increased access to job opportunities, and healthier communities.
But ultimately, local elected, planning and zoning officials will be the ones deciding whether or not to make some or any of these proposed reforms. Urge them to read the toolkit as many of you continue pushing for smart reforms to put affordable housing in great neighborhoods within reach of more Americans.
Additional resources:
Access these affordable housing resources provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: