City's affordability 'top of the list'

(Saporta Report) Atlanta’s housing advocates reminded newly-elected leaders of their commitments during the campaign to address the city’s affordability problems.

“It’s an exciting and challenging time for us,” said Bill Bolling, the facilitator of the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum meeting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Dec. 6, a day after the election. “We finally got affordability to the top of the list. We need to hold [elected leaders] accountable and be allies” in helping make Atlanta more affordable.

Atlanta City Council member Andre Dickens pointed to a recent win in November when the Council unanimously passed inclusionary zoning legislation that will require developers along the entire BeltLine corridor to provide up to 15 percent of residential development as affordable housing.

Dickens said developers were at the table – willing to have difficult conversations – about the need for inclusionary zoning. He specifically mentioned the Council for Quality Growth for being willing to work on the legislation.

Dickens said that while the legislation is just for developments around the BeltLine, he hopes that it will serve as a pilot to adopt inclusionary zoning requirements throughout the city.

Read the full story here: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/12/08/city-s-affordability-now-top-of-the-list-for.html