Des Moines to develop a citywide housing strategy
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DSM is developing its first citywide housing strategy, a plan that will influence what future projects receive municipal incentives.
Why it matters: It's an attempt to balance housing options across the city and address affordability gaps that have left neighborhoods out of reach for some families.
Catch up quick: Multiple local governments recently participated in a regional "impediments to fair housing" analysis.
- The data and mapping patterns "repeatedly" showed that a lack of housing options disproportionately affects people of color and low-income populations.
- The availability or location of quality and affordable housing was among the most common barriers, per the survey.
Driving the news: The Citywide Housing Strategy is drilling deeper into factors like housing conditions and financial burdens of the families who live in them to guide DSM's future development decisions.
- A citizen survey about housing issues was launched this week and will be used to help set goals.
Context: DSM has used similar reviews for years to improve specific neighborhoods.
- And before awarding some incentives, the city already considers the percentage of affordable housing created by proposed projects.
Yes, but: The new strategy will bring a holistic approach to the city's efforts, Mike Ludwig, deputy director of development services for Des Moines, tells Axios.
- The strategy is likely to include affordable housing standards based on location to help direct city incentives in new construction and rehab projects, he said.
What's next: The survey concludes in early January, with a final draft of the strategy from the city and consultant team CZB being made public in the following weeks.
- The City Council will vote on the plan in the coming months.