Washingtoner - City of Spokane Housing Initiative Featured by National Planning Organization

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~ Spokane, WA - The City of Spokane has been recognized by a national organization for its efforts to address the housing supply crisis. The American Planning Association (APA) recently featured the city's permanent code changes in a blog post, highlighting its commitment to creating more diverse and attainable housing options.

According to Angela D. Brooks, APA President and Washington state native, Spokane is setting an example for other communities by taking action through local planning-led reforms. "APA spotlights community zoning reform efforts to show the depth and variety of options that can be taken to create more diverse, attainable, and equitable housing supply throughout the nation," she said.

The city's Planning Services Director, Spencer Gardner, explained that the swift policy move was a response to the needs of the community. "We felt that allowing for a few additional units on each lot was a way to open up for incremental growth that didn't necessarily overwhelm any one neighborhood but allowed for each to adapt and change over time," Gardner told the APA.

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He also noted that one of the consistent themes in their decision-making process was the recognition that many people were struggling to find housing. This understanding ultimately led to their success in implementing these changes. "Ultimately, we grounded it in people's experiences and the struggles they were feeling at the moment," Gardner added.

The City of Spokane's historic roots are closely tied to its recent moves towards addressing the need for more housing diversity through small-scale development and flexibility in meeting market demands. As highlighted in the short documentary "River City Rising," Spokane's population tripled between 1900 and 1910 due in part to incorporating a variety of housing types, price levels, and family situations into its neighborhoods.

Mayor Lisa Brown expressed her excitement about Spokane being recognized as a national example for increasing housing options for people at all stages of life. "We're thrilled that Spokane has set a national example for others to follow," she said.

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The City's Housing Action Plan, adopted in 2021, identified a desire to streamline permitting and simplify processes for the approval of new housing across the city. This commitment to creating more diverse housing options has also been recognized by other organizations. Earlier this year, Governor Jay Inslee presented the City with the 2023 Smart Communities Award for the Smart Housing Strategies Category in a statewide competition organized by the Washington State Department of Commerce. In addition, the City received a state Excellence in Planning Award from the Planning Association of Washington last year in the Comprehensive Plan-Large Cities and Counties Category.

Spokane's efforts to address the housing supply crisis have not gone unnoticed. With its commitment to creating more diverse and attainable housing options, Spokane is setting an example for other communities to follow.

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