TOP ISSUES DRIVING THE SPOKANE HOUSING CRISIS - Part 4

8 out of 10 Spokane residents can’t afford to buy a home in current market conditions.

Read that sentence again. We’re in a housing crisis like never before.

Home prices in Spokane rose 30% over the past year alone, but the driving forces behind housing affordability started years ago.

It’s past time to take action, and that work begins by getting a clear understanding of what’s driving the crisis. Here are the top five reasons we’re in such bad shape.

1. Population Growth
2. Not Enough Housing
3. Shortage of Skilled Workers
4. Resistance to Change Zoning

Ok, so we know that we need more houses and more skilled workers to build those houses. Is there anything else keeping homebuilders from building enough homes for everyone? Unfortunately, yes.

In order to keep up with the demand for housing, Spokane needs about 2,900 more housing units per year. But under current zoning policies, that’s nearly impossible to do.

Jim Frank, the founder of Greenstone Homes, recently said, “the Spokane development code makes it very difficult to build anything but large homes on large lots and restricts all multifamily development to segregated high-density zoning districts. When you look around Spokane, what you see are single-family homes on large lots, along with large multifamily projects. There is virtually nothing in between.”

Missing middle housing types like duplexes, triplexes and townhouses make up only 9% of Spokane’s housing while single-family detached homes account for over 68%.

Sadly, several neighborhood councils and currently elected City Council members are not eager to help change zoning.

A co-chair of the neighborhood council in Spokane’s Comstock neighborhood was recently quoted saying “I have nothing against duplexes and triplexes, just not next to my house.

That is in stark contrast to the prioritized agenda set forth by Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward in an effort to help bring relief to the housing emergency.
“We need more housing and greater variety now,” Woodward said. “Business as usual isn’t currently equipped to deliver new construction quickly enough to immediately increase inventory.

Efforts to modernize zoning codes and policies are underway but can’t happen soon enough.

5. Out-of-Market Buyers

Read next week’s article for more & What we can do to help ensure Spokane is an affordable place to live... & grow!

For more information visit SHBA or Building For the Future. 

www.SHBA.com
(509) 532-4990
5813 E 4th Ave, Suite 201
Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokane Home Builders Association is a member-driven organization that works to elevate professionalism in the residential construction industry, provide innovative resources and information to our members and engage in informative, effective advocacy on construction issues to create affordable housing options for the community. We promote, protect and educate the housing industry and our community.