The discussion on affordable housing in Pittsburgh continues, specifically on “inclusionary zoning.”Inclusionary zoning is when housing developers set aside a percentage of housing units for limited income families. The city was working on a bill to make this practice mandatory in Pittsburgh, but an amended version of the bill now seeks to make this practice voluntary for developers looking to build in the city.Earlier this month, Councilmember Erika Strassburger proposed an amended version of the “inclusionary zoning” legislation. The key difference under the amended bill is that developers of buildings with 20 or more units that would have been required to follow inclusionary zoning practices could opt out for a fee.“My fear was that the policy that was originally introduced would have stifled development such that we wouldn’t have seen housing development at all in the city. We would have seen 19-unit buildings. We would have seen housing on the outskirts of the city, but not actually inside the city. And I really think that the amendments that I’m proposing allow for the flexibility to build housing and to build affordability into it, or create a fund that can find the lowest, the lowest income level housing possible. And that is the best way forward,” Strassburger said.She said the amended version would incentivize developers to opt in, and fees paid to opt out could be used to create a fund to support other affordable housing ventures.After the amended legislation was sent to the planning commission last week, Mayor Gainey’s office released a statement saying it sacrifices progress on housing justice.“Rather than prioritizing policies that uplift working families struggling to find housing they can afford, the Strassburger amendment caters to entrenched private interests and developers, setting back years of people-centered progress,” the mayor’s office said.The planning commission has 90 days to hold a hearing and then make its recommendation to council.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

The discussion on affordable housing in Pittsburgh continues, specifically on “inclusionary zoning.”

Inclusionary zoning is when housing developers set aside a percentage of housing units for limited income families. The city was working on a bill to make this practice mandatory in Pittsburgh, but an amended version of the bill now seeks to make this practice voluntary for developers looking to build in the city.

Earlier this month, Councilmember Erika Strassburger proposed an amended version of the “inclusionary zoning” legislation.

The key difference under the amended bill is that developers of buildings with 20 or more units that would have been required to follow inclusionary zoning practices could opt out for a fee.

“My fear was that the policy that was originally introduced would have stifled development such that we wouldn’t have seen housing development at all in the city. We would have seen 19-unit buildings. We would have seen housing on the outskirts of the city, but not actually inside the city. And I really think that the amendments that I’m proposing allow for the flexibility to build housing and to build affordability into it, or create a fund that can find the lowest, the lowest income level housing possible. And that is the best way forward,” Strassburger said.

She said the amended version would incentivize developers to opt in, and fees paid to opt out could be used to create a fund to support other affordable housing ventures.

After the amended legislation was sent to the planning commission last week, Mayor Gainey’s office released a statement saying it sacrifices progress on housing justice.

“Rather than prioritizing policies that uplift working families struggling to find housing they can afford, the Strassburger amendment caters to entrenched private interests and developers, setting back years of people-centered progress,” the mayor’s office said.

The planning commission has 90 days to hold a hearing and then make its recommendation to council.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel