Hi, I"m Alice Tousignant, Richmond City resident and affordable housing advocate. HB 1122 is about promoting and creating mixed income housing, decontrating poverty and housing choice. In the past few years, I've seen thousands of market rate housing going up in various parts of the City, while there is a serious need for housing that households at or below 80% of Area Median Income can afford. Richmond City has tried coaxing developers into adding affordable units to no avail. My friend was at a meeting recently for a new multi-family development. Several area residents who attended the meeting quizzed the developer about adding a few units of affordable housing in the new development. The developer said the numbers didn't work charging a lower rent, but if the City gave him local funds and other incentives in exchange for the units, he could afford to do it. But left to left to their own devices, most developers will not. Thank you.
Hi, I"m Alice Tousignant, Richmond City resident and affordable housing advocate. HB 1122 is about promoting and creating mixed income housing, decontrating poverty and housing choice. In the past few years, I've seen thousands of market rate housing going up in various parts of the City, while there is a serious need for housing that households at or below 80% of Area Median Income can afford. Richmond City has tried coaxing developers into adding affordable units to no avail. My friend was at a meeting recently for a new multi-family development. Several area residents who attended the meeting quizzed the developer about adding a few units of affordable housing in the new development. The developer said the numbers didn't work charging a lower rent, but if the City gave him local funds and other incentives in exchange for the units, he could afford to do it. But left to left to their own devices, most developers will not. Thank you.