Zoning, Building Codes and Politics Affects Housing

Affordable housing is impacted by many elements among which are land use regulations, building codes and politics.  A recent Study indicates that land use restrictions and building codes tend to drive housing prices higher with more amenities. Democrats tend to want these amenities while Republicans do not.  This results in communities becoming more Democratic politically which results in more government and government regulation which increases housing costs ad infinitum. In other words, Democrats, on balance, seem to be willing to pay a higher premium to live in heavily zoned communities, while Republicans would rather live somewhere with fewer amenities at lower cost.

Housing becomes less affordable and rents will continue to rise faster than inflation; upper-middle class communities will continue to pull the ladder up for upwardly-mobile young families; and the community's economy will continue to be artificially suppressed because it is difficult for workers without means to move places where the job market is hot.

The City Council needs to take a close look at what policies or lack of regulations actually makes housing more affordable before jumping off half cocked and imposing policies and regulations that actually make housing less affordable and at the same time turns the city Democratic.