While many factors affect the drop in housing permits, developers say a change to the fee could make a significant impact in moving projects along.
A landmark Seattle housing law is facing pushback as the city sees permit applications for new housing drop precipitously, reports David Kroman in The Seattle Times.
City officials saw the Mandatory Housing Affordability program, passed between 2017 and 2019, as “a best-of-all-worlds approach to unleashing the private market while also taking advantage of a generationally good environment for development on behalf of the public.” The program requires developers who want to build larger buildings to pay into an affordable housing fund or offer affordable units.
But last year saw only half as many permit applications as 2024, bringing in only $22 million in revenue for affordable housing, prompting city leaders to consider scaling back or pausing the fees for up to three years. A coalition of developers says scaling back the fees by 75 to 90 percent could unlock at least 13 permitted housing projects that are currently on hold.
Read the full story: Developers want rollback of Seattle affordability program as construction stalls
Analysis: DC needs tens of thousands of new homes — not just 'zoned capacity'
Estimates for Washington DC's housing needs range from 15,000 to 170,000.
Seattle's first social housing building gets 10,000 resident applications
The Elara at the Market development includes 150 affordable housing units.
Connecticut developer fee brought in $8M for affordable housing — but fewer affordable homes are being built
A new report from the city of Stamford highlights how letting developers pay into an affordable housing fund has led to a sharp drop in permits for new affordable units.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority