How updating a few musty housing laws can promote the smart, affordable housing options we need across fast-growing Northwest towns and cities.
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Affordable housing is lacking across the Northwest, with housing policy here effectively excluding from the market many lower-cost options for low-income families and individuals. A raft of outdated laws bans the types of residential arrangements that once housed most of the North American working class and prohibits modest home options near jobs, transit, schools, and neighborhood centers—from mother-in-law apartments and triplexes to rooms that were safe, comfortable, and convenient but small and basic.
As a result, families may scrimp on food or heat to be sure they can pay rent each month; they may opt for black-market housing; or they may even go homeless. Everyone deserves a clean, safe place to live; but beyond safety regulations, the floor plans mandated by current housing rules aren’t affordable for everyone. In this series, Sightline researchers explore the key laws that prevent smart, affordable housing arrangements of the past from getting to market today, and look to a Northwest revival of inexpensive housing options.
Mother-in-Laws do matter! But we’re not talking about our spouses’ moms. (Hi, Linda!) We’re talking about apartments over garages, daylight basement suites, and backyard cottages. This kind of home can be a great living solution for renters and owners alike—with benefits for the whole community too. READ MORE: ADU Parking Quotas Are Climate Killers A key … Read more
Re-legalizing mid-size homes protects middle-class affordability and shared values.
This morning, Washington House Representatives Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac) and Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia) introduced the most progressive accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bill legislators from any state have ever had the opportunity to vote on. For Washington cities of 2,500 people or more, and within urban growth areas, the bill would: Permit two ADUs per lot wherever … Read more
For decades, Oregon has used state law to battle economic segregation. Fair-housing experts say HB 2001 is the next step.
The proposal from Speaker Tina Kotek, HB 2001, would be great for workforce housing across the state.
Editor’s note, 1/11/19: We updated this article to add information about 2018 code changes in Anchorage, Alaska. Cascadians are hungry for housing choices. One way they showed it in 2018 was by loosening restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in cities across the region—from Bellingham to Yakima, Florence to Portland. In all, at least 37 … Read more
A proposed bill in Oregon is exciting for lots of reasons. Here’s just one.
Plan also includes taller apartment buildings near transit and a historic abolition on all off-street parking quotas.
Thousands of lots currently on track to become one-unit McMansions would see “missing middle” housing instead.
An audit of where the rent check goes reveals the simple answer: Housing is expensive to build and operate.