Salt Lake City Launches '5,000 Doors' Initiative for Affordable Housing

"Mayor Ralph Becker announced last week the 5,000 Doors Initiative — a five-year plan for the creation or preservation of 5,000 affordable housing units across the city," reports Alexis Stephens. "The initiative seeks to make 2,500 of the units available to low-income renters and 2,500 units for homebuyers."

Stephens's reportage includes a conversation with Michael Ackerlow, the city’s director of housing and neighborhood redevelopment, who provides insight into the need for the plan and how the plan will work.

"The 5,000 Doors Initiative is a jumping-off point not only to create a citywide conversation about affordable housing, but visioning the future of housing in Salt Lake City in general. Inclusionary zoning might be on the table, as well as other incentives for developers to create mixed-income housing. Becker’s administration plans to work closely with City Council to create a housing plan that builds on comprehensive housing policy the city adopted in 2012."

Christopher Smart also reported on the plan the week it was released, noting that it's unclear if inclusionary zoning has the political support to make it through the council: "Whether the council has the political will to push for mandated affordable housing in large developments is unclear, said Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall. The council, however, does appear ready to embrace Becker's initiative that focuses on incentives for private-sector development."