Keep Building Homes
Tell City Council NO on Inclusionary Zoning - September 10th
Speaking out against the inclusionary zoning bill is one of the most impactful things you can do to reverse our housing crisis and keep Pittsburgh affordable for all.
Read below for more information.
We are asking people to use the form on this page to let us know if they can either speak at the meeting on Wednesday 09/10, or send an email to the City Clerk.
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This bill is a real chonk. Some of its proposals are great, like legalizing granny flats (ADUs), encouraging apartments near T stops (TOD) and parking reform. Another one of its proposals, which reduced or removed minimum lot sizes, passed in a separate bill this past May! This was a big victory for Pittsburghers and for housing advocates across the city!
Unfortunately, its central proposal, inclusionary zoning (IZ), would outweigh all the good it's other proposals would do. IZ is an approach to addressing the growing concern of housing affordability within urban settings. By mandating or incentivizing developers to allocate a percentage of affordable housing units in their projects, IZ attempts to promote a mix of incomes within communities.
But most studies show that unfunded IZ policies, including Pittsburgh’s current policy in Lawrenceville, actually make housing less affordable. This is because builders make up for the lost income on affordable units by raising rents on the rest of the tenants, which they can only do if the neighborhood is desirable enough to warrant higher rents. If the neighborhood isn't desirable enough they simply don't build there, moving projects to adjacent municipalities or other real estate markets.
Unfortunately, despite this, IZ is very popular because it lets politicians claim they are doing something about affordable housing without spending any money. As a result certain members of the city council are very keen on pushing this policy through despite the fact that it will make housing more expensive at all income levels.
Tell city council that they need to drop the IZ provision and pass the rest of the great reforms in this bill!
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We want a future for Pittsburgh that is welcoming and affordable for all!
We have already a seen a substantial decrease in both completed and proposed housing construction in Lawrenceville as compared to similar neighborhoods. This decrease in construction increases housing prices for all housing types. Spreading this policy citywide would be disastrous.
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Check out our Stay Involved page for tips about making public comments.
Testifying live is the most impactful way to make comments but it will take several hours of your time so we understand if you can only write in.
Register to speak as soon as possible because the sooner you register the less of your time it will take. You can register at the speaker sign up page. Select 09/10 @ 200 PM Bill 2025-1545 Housing Needs Assessment Bill (i.e. IZ). Fill out your details, select Opposed, and Submit.
To testify in-person come to City-County Building at 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, on the 5th Floor at 2PM
To testify via zoom you have to register as above and wait for an email from the City Clerk, which can come as late as an hour before the council session starts.
If you're unable to testify live, please email your testimony to to the City Clerk (cityclerksoffice@pittsburghpa.gov)before 9AM the day of the meeting, or before Wednesday, September 10th at 9 AM. Make the subject 2025-1545 Housing Needs Assessment Zoning Amendments.
Please sign up for our email list and we will send you a reminder. You’ll get a link to join our Slack to coordinate with other members.
Background
It’s hard to craft an effective IZ policy
We looked at Pittsbrugh’s existing IZ districts.
What IZ policies have been tried in other cities?*
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Implemented a citywide inclusionary zoning which has built 4 Extremely Low Income units (30% AMI) in 6 years. In the same time it has built 44 Very Low Income units (50% AMI) by providing 7 million dollars in publicly funded subsidies
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The Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program is an IZ program around certain transit stations that has had some success in LA. It offers substantial incentives including a density bonus of at least 50%. It also allows by-right construction which bypasses City Planning review.
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Implemented a fully funded IZ policy that provides tax credits that fully offset development losses. Despite the funding, according to their annual report Baltimore's policy did not create any affordable units at any level of affordability in 2024.
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The citywide IZ policy is funded by providing tax abatements. But, in May 2024, their city auditor found that although one of the stated goals of the program was to “increase housing opportunities for families and individuals facing the greatest disparities,” Extremely Low Income renters did not qualify for units created under the program.
*These are the cities that proponents of Pittsburgh Citywide IZ have used as examples of successes.
All the cities mentioned above have reporting requirements to help determine if their policies are working. Minneapolis and Los Angeles have online dashboards showing the housing created. Baltimore and Portland require annual reports. The City of Pittsburgh has not produced any such reporting to justify expanding the existing policy. The proposed citywide expansion of IZ doesn’t require it either.
This is not a policy based on data
We currently have unfunded IZ in a few neighborhoods in the city where it has not been successful. Some City Council Members continue to push for this policy despite evidence it will do more harm than good.
Funding
Unfunded. Requires that developers search for and compete for gap financing through grants, housing vouchers, or subsidies. If funding can't be found and the neighborhood isn't upscale enough to increase rents for non restricted units, the project wont' be built.
Approval Process
Does not prioritize applicants building affordable housing.
Affordability Requirements
Doesn't target deeply affordable housing. The Housing Needs Assessment indicates that Pittsburgh's housing supply gap is for Extremely Low-Income residents that earn 30% AMI or less. This policy requires that 10% units be affordable at 50% AMI. The assessent did not indicate a housing supply gap between 31% and 50% AMI.
Evictions
Requires tenants to move out if their income ever exceeds 80% AMI. This punishes tenants for making money and enforces poverty.
Incentives
Developments are given incentives consistent with the Performance Points system in the Zoning Code. If the development is already in a district eligible for performance points there is no incentive.