What Prevents Middle-Income Housing from Being Built?

A Shelterforce blog post explores the roadblocks to developing housing geared toward middle-income residents, and concludes that a combination of artificial production caps, NIMBYism, and regulations result in projects simply not penciling out in city neighborhoods where rents are typically lower. The result is more luxury units being built in inner core areas compared with workforce housing throughout the city. The problem of neighbors opposing new "cheap-looking" housing is especially acute, and results in "upscale" design standards that keep middle-income housing out of many neighborhoods. The post includes a map from a ULI report on inclusionary zoning that shows the areas of Portland where development projects are economically feasible. Read more.