Getting Inclusionary Housing Right

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Cities across Santa Clara County are considering this powerful tool to build more new affordable homes without subsidy.

But done wrong it can fall short, or even stop the development of new homes in its tracks. Learn how it works, and how to get it right!

Many of our local cities are joining forces right now in a shared nexus study, the wonky and in-depth analysis that assesses the feasibility of local residential development and the potential for developers of market-rate housing to add a share of affordable homes to their buildings.

If cities require too few affordable homes or affordability that’s too shallow, they leave public benefits on the table. Too much, and developers can’t build any housing at all.

Come hear about local cities that are getting it right: successfully using inclusionary housing policies to achieve mixed-income communities, generate funding to subsidize deeper levels of affordability, and gain valuable land for affordable homes!

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December 15, 2021

San José Eliminates Commercial Requirements for 100% Affordable Housing!

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Last Tuesday, affordable housing won a major victory in San José. After years of SV@Home advocacy and coordination with Destination: Home, the San José City Council unanimously voted to support the General Plan Task Force’s recommendation to eliminate commercial space requirements in 100% affordable housing developments.

This is a major step toward making affordable housing more feasible in San José. Commercial requirements for affordable developments have caused developers to stop pursing viable opportunity sites, walk away from projects, identify alternative funding sources to support commercial build-outs, and carry vacant commercial space. For these reasons, Councilmembers Davis, Arenas, and Jimenez as well as Councilmembers Cohen and Foley released memos that supported adopting the Task Force recommendation. SV@Home participated in the General Plan Task Force and supported these memos during public comment and by submitting a letter.

Staff is slated to return to Council on January 11th, 2022 with a policy that formally removes commercial obligations for 100% affordable developments. In addition to returning with a new policy, staff will explore key employment sites identified by the City for potential conversion from mixed-use to commercial as well as a subsidy program to incentivize commercial space in affordable developments. As staff prepares a new map and commercial incentive program for affordable developments, SV@Home is committed to collaborating with the City as it works through how best to maximize affordable housing solutions throughout San José.