Housing in many cities is now hard to afford. People blame land, higher building costs, or investors. A researcher says local planning and approval systems also make housing more expensive.
He describes two approval approaches. One is discretionary approval, where officials negotiate and decide case by case. The other is by-right approval, where a project is approved if it meets clear rules.
Long negotiations can add time and cost. Big developers can handle delays, but smaller builders struggle. The researcher says local governments can speed up planning so more affordable housing can be built.
Difficult words
- afford — have enough money to buy something
- discretionary — decided by officials for each case
- approval — official permission to do a project
- negotiate — talk with others to reach agreement
- developer — company or person who builds housesdevelopers
- planning — deciding what to build and where
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen planning delays for building projects in your area? What happened?
- Which approval approach do you think would help create more affordable housing? Why?
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