Increasing Housing Supply and Attainability: Improving Rules and Engagement to Build More Housing

The first quick hit after lunch featured Michelle Chang, Founder and CEO of Imby Community, Inc., briefing the attentive crowd on ULI Washington’s new report on Increasing Housing Supply and Attainabiltiy.  The report is the product of almost a year’s worth of conversation with developers, architects, planners, attorneys and other real estate professionals about the development entitlement and citizen participation processes and how they impact the supply of housing that is built.  The report outlines the connection between housing supply and attainability and describes the basics of development decision making.  The critical housing attainability challenges in the Washington, DC region are described.  The second section of the report focuses on how development is planned and approved in the region, and the barriers to and opportunities for supply growth and attainability.  The final section of the report is a series of recommendations on steps that can be proactively pursued throughout the region to build a more attainable housing supply.  The report will be posted on the ULI Washington website and a series of conversations about the report’s findings will be held over the next six months.