Thoughts on Affordable Housing

There are many facets of the affordable housing issue, but, the simple obvious one is that the cost of housing is unaffordable for many in the working class.

It is becoming clear, even to progressives/liberals, that a principle driver, if not the most important driver for housing costs is restrictive zoning laws.

Here is an excellent analysis of the zoning issue and its impact on housing prices, whether it be purchase prices or rental rates. Ilya Somin

The vast majority of voters quite rationally devote little time and effort to understanding policy issues. And the ways in which zoning inflates housing prices and destroys job opportunities are not immediately obvious to most ordinary people, especially those who do not know basic economics.

It seems clear that if the City Council wants to encourage more affordable housing in Georgetown, then zoning ordinances need to be relaxed. This would include relaxing height restrictions on multifamily housing, allowing reduced setbacks where appropriate, and such items as allowing "granny flats" to be built behind older homes on larger lots. Finally, creative solutions to parking are needed that do not restrict the size and locations of housing.