Instead of waiting for developers to come into town with plans for affordable housing, some Connecticut towns are taking advantage of a statewide grant program that helps establish zones for high density and affordable housing.
Cities in the state are finding it more effective to dictate where affordable housing can go, as opposed to simply reacting to development plans with calls for certain affordable housing requirements.
"Historically, that philosophy has been a hard sell for proponents of affordable housing. Most communities have strongly resisted such housing, even in the face of a state law that eases the way for developers if less than 10 percent of a town's housing stock qualifies as affordable.
Although the law is routinely criticized for overriding local density restrictions, few municipalities have acted on their own to plan for affordable housing.
Now, as concern grows that high housing costs and lagging job growth are driving young people out of the state, towns have lined up to take advantage of the year-old grant program - called the Housing Program for Economic Growth, or HOMEConnecticut."
FULL STORY: Towns Accommodate ‘Affordable’
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San Francisco Housing Construction Far Slower Than Other Tech Hubs
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Critics of inclusionary zoning frequently point to San Francisco as an example of what not to do. A sluggish year of development has some local politicians ready to reconsider the city’s program.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
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Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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