Frank Chiachiere provides some advice on how Seattle can achieve its ambitious goals for affordable housing over the next decade: build transit to places where land is less expensive.
Given that the 20,000 units of affordable housing targeted by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will be difficult to fund, Frank Chiachiere notes that the Seattle real estate market also means its expensive to build units near high frequency transit lines, even with reduced parking requirements lowering the cost of development.
Chiachiere notes that the ingredients might be in the right place for Seattle to build transit infrastructure to flank the challenge:
"Rather than chase the expensive land near current transit stations, the task force might consider how to bring frequent transit to more parts of the city. That would open up more neighborhoods to potential affordable housing. It’s encouraging that Prop 1 and Move Seattle, along with Metro’s long-range-plan, all nod in that direction."
Chiachiere notes also that the city's Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee, due for a report in May, is another potential ally to this strategy.
FULL STORY: To Get More Affordable Housing, Build More Transit
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