91视频

A development bonus being considered by the Portland City Council would allow developers to build apartment buildings with no parking in exchange for providing deeper affordability.

For buildings with at least 50 percent of units rent-restricted at 60 percent of area median income, developers would not have to meet parking minimums.

The bonus is already available to projects within 500 feet of frequent service transit or 1,500 feet of a light-rail station. The proposed amendment would eliminate parking requirements for deeply affordable housing throughout the city.

Mayor Ted Wheeler said the aim of the proposed amendment, and others, is to entice such development throughout the city.

鈥淭he intent is to expand affordability,鈥� he said at Wednesday’s council meeting.

New affordable housing buildings often include some parking for residents’ use, although typically fewer spaces are provided than at comparable market-rate apartment buildings. There is also affordable housing in historic buildings throughout downtown and Old Town Chinatown that do not have parking.

鈥淔or affordable housing, we do have parking sometimes,鈥� Dan Valliere, CEO of REACH Community Development, said in an interview. 鈥淚t depends a lot on the affordability level and the location. At a close-in location, sometimes that’s not necessary.鈥�

The no-parking bonus is likely to raise opposition from neighbors concerned about street parking and density. Proximity to transit can make a difference, Valliere said.

鈥淭he majority of people that rent affordable housing apartments that REACH manages do not have a car and are able to not have a car because the majority of our units are located close to transportation,鈥� he said.

The amendment would be part of Better Housing by Design 鈥� a city zoning project to encourage denser development in multi-dwelling zones. Those zones are by land area only 8 percent of the city, but tend to be near transit 鈥� a mapping analysis found 89 percent of multi-dwelling zone properties are within 1,500 feet of frequent service transit.

Parking has been an obstacle to development of affordable housing, according to a city analysis. Structured parking typically costs around $40,000 per space, and takes up area that could be used for housing, according to the city.

Affordable housing developers have broadly supported the Better Housing by Design proposal.

Valliere said it often makes sense to build some parking. At times, REACH goes beyond parking minimums. But any flexibility is welcome, he said.

鈥淲e appreciate the option not to require any number of spaces,鈥� he said.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has expressed concerns, saying Better Housing by Design fails to address Portland’s history of racist zoning.

鈥淚 still believe if we pass this as is 鈥� not even addressing the amendments 鈥� that we are once again solidifying racially discriminatory policy and reaffirming that past bad practices continue on,鈥� she said.

Hardesty also criticized program aspects that discourage demolitions in historic districts and in some cases apply to only one property. An amendment pitched by Wheeler would rezone the Anna Mann house in Laurelhurst for use as an 88-unit affordable housing project.

鈥淲riting exceptions for individual properties are very problematic to me,鈥� Hardesty said.

Commissioners heard more than three hours of public testimony on the proposal Wednesday, but did not take a vote. The council will again take up the matter on Nov. 21. It will be the third hearing for Better Housing by Design after an initial council hearing on Oct. 2.

Written testimony will be accepted until Nov. 21, but commissioners closed the record on oral testimony.