Brian Phillips, CRS,CIPS,C2EX,AHWD,NYRS,ABR,SRS,SFR,CNE,’s Post

Right-sizing the housing supply in any major city requires a housing policies that keep pace with growing populations. Seattle's no exception. Like a lot of big cities these days, our zoning laws work against our best interests. Allowing for increased density is necessary for our city (and country) to address the housing crisis. #SeattleHousing #HousingCrisis #HousingDensity

🗽 This week, in a bold move to combat the deepening housing crisis, the New York City Council has unanimously passed the 'City of Yes' initiative, an ambitious plan designed to dramatically reshape housing availability over the next decade. The city has been suffering from high rental burden with 500,000 households spending half their income on rent. The initiative includes: 🏗️ 80,000 New Homes: Aiming to significantly shrink the housing shortage over the next 15 years 💵 $5 Billion Investment: Dedicated to enhancing affordable housing and vital infrastructure 🔃 Zoning Changes: Creating opportunities for more housing near transit and commercial areas 🅿️ Parking Revisions: Reducing parking mandates to support new housing near transit hubs 🌆 This is a monumental initiative to attack the housing crisis. But this is just the start, tackling the housing crisis requires not only bold policy changes but also the adoption of advanced technological solutions and innovations. By accelerating real estate development cycles, we can more effectively meet the urgent demand for housing. The New York Times New York City Council

Check out this new Regional Plan Association report that I had the pleasure of contributing to. In a two-part study, we analyzed #CityOfYes for Housing Opportunity zoning reforms and the emergent opportunities to increase housing in NYC.  https://lnkd.in/eWDqxbCH

Washington, D.C. is facing a mounting challenge in affordable housing. As reported by The Washington Post, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment has jumped 8% in the past year, now reaching $2,800 per month. This spike underscores several critical issues: Decline in Affordable Units: Over the past decade, the city has lost more than 20,000 affordable housing units, worsening the crisis. Increased Financial Pressure on Renters: Around half of DC renters are now dedicating over 30% of their income to housing, placing significant strain on their finances. Policy Gaps: Current housing policies are falling short in addressing the growing demand, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches. For an in-depth analysis of the situation, check out the full article: Washington, D.C. Faces Growing Affordable Housing Crisis Amid Rising Costs. At #ECM, we understand the urgency of developing #effectivestrategies to tackle these challenges and enhance housing affordability. Let’s work together to create meaningful change in our communities.

"Overall, we found that building 100 market-rate units increased the probability of low-income households moving out of a neighborhood by 0.982 times in Los Angeles and 1.138 times in San Francisco (short-term), with effects decaying over the long term. In other words, if a neighborhood gained 100 new market-rate units, a particular low-income household saw a decreased probability for out-migration of 2% in Los Angeles but an increased probability of 14% in San Francisco of moving out relative to when there was no new construction." #SanFrancisco #Displacement #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment

Regional Plan Association released today "City of Yes and Missing Middle Housing," our newest report that examines how #CityOfYes for Housing Opportunity zoning reforms could create much-needed middle density housing across all parts of New York City. Downzoning efforts in the last two decades have reduced the amount of new housing units by as much as 92% in some neighborhoods, while other neighborhoods bear the brunt of displacement, gentrification, and overcrowding. City of Yes isn't just a set of zoning reforms — it's a pro-homes proposal and an equitable development initiative to reintroduce diverse housing types in low-growth areas. Read the full report on our website:

It’s official: The most pro-housing plan in New York City history was just approved by the New York City Council! Yesterday, the City Council passed the #CityofYes for Housing Opportunity, marking a monumental milestone for housing in our city. Over the next 15 years, the zoning reforms that comprise City of Yes will allow for the creation of 80,000 units of desperately needed housing across the five boroughs. Coupled with the City and State’s $5 billion investment in housing and infrastructure thanks to the City Council’s #CityforAll agenda, these new homes will go a long way toward combatting the housing crisis. We celebrate this remarkable achievement alongside our many coalition partners and grassroots housing justice advocates. While there is still more work to be done to combat the housing crisis, this success demonstrates the power of local government and community organizing to build a more equitable future for all New Yorkers. #buildingamoreequitablenewyork https://lnkd.in/efSj44Aj

"The debate over [housing] solutions is so contentious in part because different people are solving for different end goals." It's absolutely fascinating to get an inside look at what people would change about housing in NYC (and to a broader extent, in all urban areas). It's clear that there's no single right solution. Instead, we need a web of solutions that can be tailored to the context of each neighborhood/city. #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #Housing

The tell tale sign of intelligence is being able to learn from others’ mistakes and not having to repeat those mistakes ourselves. Oregon? “When at long last cities do adopt their plans, they are often inadequate, falling short of meaningful improvements to housing affordability and access. They are also often unfair: Our ongoing research shows that most California cities concentrate new housing sites in their lower-income neighborhoods. This not only conflicts with fair housing goals; it also reduces the amount of housing developers will build and leaves on the table the many units that could be added to higher-income neighborhoods. State regulators should respond by requiring objective, performance-based metrics, such as the Fair Housing Land Use Score, to ensure all neighborhoods take on their fair share of development.” The other take away is in the timing of enforcement. Just like kids, you can’t wait three years for a consequence and then water down the consequence. A deadline is a deadline.

As someone who works to connect tenants with housing resources at the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit, I see every day how hard it can be to find affordable homes in NYC. With rent-stabilized and rental housing vacancy rates at historic lows, competition for housing has only driven up costs, making it harder for many to stay in their communities. #CityOfYes for Housing Opportunity aims to create more housing options across NYC and has a Universal Affordability Preference to help ensure more affordable homes are available for New Yorkers. By allowing more homes to be built in neighborhoods citywide, this proposal can help reduce the pressures of high rents, displacement, and gentrification—giving current and future residents more opportunities to find a place they can call home. Learn more about the proposal and what it could mean for New Yorkers: https://ow.ly/J0vw30sHW88 NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit