February 20, 2020

New research from New York University (NYU) and the University of Minnesota examined the immediate, block-scale impact of new large-scale, market-rate apartments. The studies found that although new housing eases increasing rents in nearby buildings, no clear evidence emerged on whether low-income renters directly benefit from new supply. Ingrid Gould Ellen, professor at NYU, says the studies “don’t deny the reality of gentrification” and instead “suggest that building more housing… isn’t going to exacerbate those high rent burdens.”

The recent influx of low- and moderate-income new residents moving from the expensive Denver metropolitan area to small, rural Colorado cities has created a rental shortage not easily fixed by construction. Rural communities have few available, affordable units and are also faced with higher construction costs than communities closer to the city because “the labor is more expensive [and] the materials have to be shipped,” said Elena Wilken, executive director of Housing Colorado.

The Seattle City Council passed legislation prohibiting evictions of low- and moderate-income renters between December 1 and March 1. If this legislation is signed into law by Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle will be the first city in the US to ban evictions during certain months.

A new train route will connect Redlands to San Bernardino and Los Angeles, and Mayor Paul Foster intends for new development in Redlands to be concentrated in three “transit villages” around rail stations. Foster’s proposal would temporarily lift limitations on building height and density in transit villages. Genevieve Giuliano, an urban planning professor at the University of Southern California, says that the success of the villages hinges on the efficacy of the new transit system.   

The first two participants in the United Planning Organization’s (UPO’s) accessory dwelling unit (ADU) pilot program in Washington DC have been selected, and they are working with the organization to build ADUs and work toward asset development. The UPO provides not only funding for ADU construction but also support in navigating lender relationships and property management. The UPO plans for the pilot to demonstrate how the city and other organizations can help moderate-income homeowners build wealth through ADUs.