Affordable Housing

(Community Matters) I don’t always agree with Ed Wendler’s column but he has some good points about $50 here and $75 there. I disagree with the perspective that we should concentrate all our affordable housing dollars in affordable developments. This would ghetto-ize affordablity and runs counter to the ambition of encouraging economically diverse communities, whether in 130 subdivisions or downtown. Also, it isn’t only about the type of housing and materials used that can give affordability, it’s also about footprint. Sometimes that awkward corner unit in a highrise, or upstairs/downstairs units on that SFR footprint. Finally, downtown affordability might be 140% of MFI, vs 60% in the suburbs or 80% near central.