Lawmakers take second swing of hammer for housing
By The Herald Editorial Board
Even with several initiatives adopted last year during what was called “the year of housing” to increase the state’s stock of housing — in particular affordable housing — the state Legislature is expected in the session that begins Monday to take a second run at efforts that fell short in 2023.
The reason housing is getting increased attention two years in a row? Higher home prices and monthly rents should be clear to nearly everyone, as is a crisis in housing stability that has increased the ranks of those struggling or threatened with homelessness.
All that is further complicated by the state’s continued growth. The state Department of Commerce has projected the state over the next 20 years will need to see 1.1 million homes built, of which 800,000 will be apartments or other multi-family housing. In addition, communities throughout the state will need more than 90,000 beds for emergency temporary housing.
Among the solutions adopted last year, lawmakers restricted the ability of cities to limit construction of townhouses, duplexes, triplexes in neighborhoods traditionally zoned for single-family residences, and also eased path for accessory dwelling units — small cottages on an existing home’s property — that had already found approval amount more cities and counties. That allowance for more “middle housing,” according to analysis by the Puget Sound Regional Council, is expected to provide 75,000 to 150,000 new residences over 20 years.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-lawmakers-take-second-swing-of-hammer-for-housing/