America Is Finally Tackling Its Housing Crisis
Advocates are turning zoning reform into an important progressive cause — not just a housing issue
In communities across the country, the “Not In My Backyard” approach to housing is finally getting a much-needed remodel.
In Oregon, the state legislature passed a bill earlier this month legalizing duplexes in cities with a population of more than 10,000 people; and duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and “cottage clusters” in cities with over 25,000 residents. The legislation supersedes any local land use and zoning laws banning duplexes, essentially forcing cities to adopt less restrictive housing standards. Zoning reform has caught on in several municipalities: Minneapolis ended single-family zoning last year; and Seattle and Austin both recently passed “upzoning” legislation aimed at increasing density in certain neighborhoods.
All of these initiatives fit squarely into the “Yes In My Backyard” movement (YIMBY, for short), the informal pro-development campaign that’s predicated on the belief that housing has become too inaccessible and unaffordable. YIMBY stands in direct contrast to the “Not in My Backyard” philosophy (NIMBY) — that is, opposition to development and increased housing density in residential areas.
For decades, the U.S.’s development style swung closer to the NIMBY approach: subsidized housing, as well as proposals to allow more dense housing in areas previously zoned for single-family homes, tended to face fierce opposition from residents. But, with governments adopting YIMBY-esque housing initiatives — and with several presidential candidates proposing provisions aimed at encouraging cities and states to make zoning more accommodating — it appears America’s long-standing attachment to single-family zoning might finally be fading.
That’s because YIMBY supporters have tweaked the dialogue around zoning, making the cause a progressive issue — not just a housing one.
The roots of America’s restrictive zoning laws lie in the discriminatory housing policy of the early 1900s, when localities used zoning laws to enforce racial segregation. Today, a NIMBY-minded approach to development is still prevalent even in quite liberal…
