UCLA Housing Voice
Ep 77: Upzoning With Strings Attached with Jacob Krimmel and Maxence Valentin
Aug 21, 2024
Jacob Krimmel, a zoning researcher, and economist Maxence Valentin dive into the complexities of upzoning and its effects on affordable housing. They discuss Seattle's Mandatory Housing Affordability program, revealing unintended consequences like rising land values and imbalanced community benefits. The pair highlights the 'grand bargain' concept, emphasizing the need for collaborative housing policies that align developer incentives with public needs. With insights from urban planning, they illustrate the delicate balance required in navigating the dynamics of housing reform.
01:00:06
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The concept of upzoning with strings attached aims to balance increased building densities with the requirement for affordable housing contributions from developers.
- Seattle's Mandatory Housing Affordability program intended to alleviate housing crises but led to developers circumventing regulations, decreasing multifamily residence construction.
Deep dives
Understanding Upzoning with Strings Attached
Upzoning refers to changes in land use regulations that allow for increased building densities in exchange for community benefits. The concept of 'upzoning with strings attached' involves developers providing certain contributions like affordable housing in return for the opportunities granted by the upzoning. This practice has become widespread in North America, particularly with the Seattle Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program. While it aims to generate more affordable housing, it has revealed complex dynamics and unintended consequences that warrant closer examination.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
