Pittsburgh mayor pushes for 10% affordable housing amid criticism

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the administration of Mayor Ed Gainey is focused on making housing more affordable as a central aspect of its policy initiatives. A key proposal from the Gainey administration aims to mandate that at least 10 percent of all new housing developments be designated as affordable units. Currently, this inclusionary zoning is only in effect in four neighborhoods, but the mayor desires to extend these requirements to all neighborhoods citywide. However, this initiative has attracted significant criticism from city council members and local developers, who argue that it has resulted in a lack of tangible affordable housing solutions and has inadvertently stifled development in the neighborhoods where it has been implemented, particularly in areas like Lawrenceville. Critics of the inclusionary zoning proposal contend that it has failed to generate the promised affordable housing units and may actually be counterproductive by discouraging developers from pursuing projects in affected neighborhoods. For instance, Lawrenceville has seen a reduction in housing development by 32 percent, while other neighborhoods without such zoning regulations have experienced growth, such as the Strip District and the South Side, with increases in housing units of 32 percent and 18 percent respectively. This stark contrast raises questions about the effectiveness of current policies regarding affordable housing in Pittsburgh. City Councilmember Bob Charland has introduced an alternative proposal aiming to allow individual neighborhoods the authority to decide whether to implement inclusionary zoning and to provide necessary incentives to developers to encourage compliance with affordability requirements. Charland argues that without significant financial support, mandating developers to provide affordable units amounts to little more than an unrealistic wish. Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak disagrees, asserting that the existing inclusionary zoning is, in fact, yielding more affordable units and should be applied citywide without burdensome subsidies. Pawlak maintains that it would be an improper use of taxpayer funds to subsidize developers for producing housing units that residents cannot afford. Despite the differing views on the proposed zoning regulations, there appears to be insufficient support within the city council for either the Gainey administration's bill or Charland's alternative. As a result, this contentious debate regarding affordable housing strategies is anticipated to continue into the upcoming year, as stakeholders seek to address the city's housing challenges more effectively while balancing the needs of developers and the community.