ALTERNATIVE ZONING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING (AltZoning)

In studies across the country, Missing Middle is not the solution to our housing crisis. Alternative zoning policies are gaining traction as a common sense approach. Research supports our policy proposals to achieve affordable housing with many juristdictions leading the way. 

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CHICAGO

• Research shows  a market gap in Chicago – the cost to build/rehab missing-middle types often exceeds prices affordable to middle-income households. In short, builders can’t make the economics work to deliver genuinely affordable missing-middle units without subsidies or incentives. 

• By phasing out single-family zoning, Missing Middle is setting off a storm of new, expensive development.

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MINNEAPOLIS

An analysis of Minneapolis' 2040 Plan of upzoning and eliminating single‑family housing had this key finding:

• The zoning change resulted in a 3% to 5% increase in sale prices of affected single-family parcels compared to unaffected ones, raising questions about affordability..  (IDEAS/RePEc+1)

The Altzoning movement propose a slate of alternative housing proposals that are now gaining ground in cities and suburbs across the U.S. They emphasize building walkable communities, encouraging alternatives to driving, investing in subsidized affordable housing, and selectively introducing denser residential development in transit-adjacent neighborhoods.

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DEVELOP TRANSPORRTION CORRIDERS

• Focus growth in downtown centers along major transportation lines.

• Invest in subsidized affordable housing for low-income households.

• Preserve existing affordable housing​.

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CONVERT VACANT OFFICE SPACE INTO HOUSING

• Arlington County has a high office vacancy rate since the pandemic. The office vacancy surge and housing shortage intersect and its worth exploring incentives for developers to convert offices to housing. (report)

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Arlington County should adopt Fairfax County's Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) Rental Program which provides qualified households with low to moderate income the opportunity to live at a reduced rent in privately owned and privately managed market-rate apartment communities throughout Fairfax County. WDUs are typically located close to urban centers with a wide variety of employment and transportation options.

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Arlington County is losing young professionals like Emmaline because it has not considered a similar workforce housing program. Emmaline has moved to Fairfax County.