The city is revisiting its affordable housing programs, which currently do little to help moderate-income residents who are increasingly priced out of homeownership.
"Last year, the typical single person in Seattle earned enough to buy a home for just under $200,000 while the typical family of four had enough to pay just over $280,000, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The median prices were about $450,000 for a house and $290,000 for a condo."
Cities and housing agencies traditionally have focused on those with lower incomes, said David Bley, Enterprise's vice president of strategic programs. But "all of a sudden there's tremendous need among more moderate-income people who are struggling to stay in cities like Seattle."
"City officials continue to look into expanding incentives, such as the height bonus, and including more-expensive units in a program that offers a tax exemption for apartments affordable to low-income residents. Ferris also said the city could lower development fees for projects providing affordable housing."
"Tony To, a Seattle Planning Commission member and director of the housing agency HomeSight, said developers could take some steps without incentives. He lauded Belltown's moda condos, which got prices as low as $149,950 by cutting unit size to as little as 296 square feet. HomeSight cut prices for non-subsidized homes in Noji Gardens, in South Seattle, by using modular construction and limiting space and extras."
FULL STORY: Average Seattle worker can't afford to live here
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)