Six years ago, Portland adopted strict development regulations in an effort to boost affordable housing production in a city grappling with high rents and low inventory.
A new report suggests the policy may have done the opposite, and city councilors are now moving toward rolling back or amending the changes to the inclusionary zoning policy approved by voters in 2020.
And while at least one councilor argues that a “blunt reset” is a mistake, developers haven’t minced words over the policy, calling it untenable, impossible, ineffective, even tragic. The report, they said, confirms this.
“It’s just not working,” said Jonathan Culley, managing partner at Portland’s Redfern Properties. “It’s dampened our housing supply at a time when we desperately need new housing.”