Local opinion: Reimagining Tucson's housing landscape

Amidst all the chatter about our local housing crisis, the question remains: Does the American Dream still matter in our community? We’ve become adept at discussing the issue, but mere talk won’t solve the current housing crisis. Our region still lacks thousands of housing units to meet our needs. It’s time to translate dialogue into meaningful action and reassert our commitment to homeownership as a cornerstone of our community’s prosperity.

Countless studies affirm the significance of homeownership as a catalyst for individual and community well-being. Higher homeownership rates correlate with lower crime, stronger and resilient communities, and even improved educational outcomes for our youth. Homeownership means permanence and stability. Moreover, it serves as the bedrock for intergenerational wealth accumulation, empowering families to secure their financial future. Long-term homeownership is a built-in savings plan as fixed rate mortgages become more affordable and achievable over time especially when compared to renting. A predictable mortgage not only offers owners increased financial stability but also stabilizes housing costs for purchasers by shielding them from rising rents.

Yet, amidst the escalating cost of housing, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. Continued demand and limited supply challenges renters with rents exceeding their affordability and no relief on the horizon for first time homebuyers. The dream of homeownership drifts further from reach for too many individuals and families. How do we reverse this trend and foster a culture that champions homeownership?

While factors such as interest rates and construction costs lie beyond our control, we can enact local measures to mitigate these challenges. Traditional incentives have favored large-scale rental developments, neglecting initiatives to promote ownership opportunities. It’s time for a paradigm shift.

Consider the prospect of reducing or eliminating development fees for ownership projects or incentivizing developers to prioritize building homes over rentals. Drawing inspiration from successful models in peer cities, we can tailor solutions to our unique needs. State-mandated Comprehensive Plan updates are in progress throughout the region, alongside the consideration of various fee studies, all should be precisely aligned with each community’s commitment to homeownership.

We must continue to streamline regulations, especially along major corridors, to enable the development of mixed-use communities. Embracing density in urban planning can enhance vibrant, walkable neighborhoods, maximize land use efficiency, and promote sustainability. By reimagining underutilized spaces like parking lots or vacant retail areas, we can expand housing options integrated with Tucson’s transit network. There has been a lot of talk about the linkage with transit choices but limited action particularly related to effective zoning changes, an often-overlooked piece of the housing puzzle. Existing housing policies require reassessment for effectiveness, and any new policies should include performance metrics.

For too long, Tucson has remained a predominantly single-family town, clinging to an outdated paradigm of urban development. It’s time to embrace innovation and embrace vertical growth as a sustainable solution to our housing woes. By integrating mid-rise and high-rise ownership options into our housing inventory, we can successfully meet the urgent demand for obtainable housing, optimize land utilization, improve infrastructure efficiency, and reduce our environmental impact. This comprehensive strategy not only enhances our region’s resilience and sustainability but also secures its long-term viability.

Realizing this vision demands cohesive, collective action. Our policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize homeownership as a fundamental component in our planning efforts; integrating initiatives like those proposed into overarching frameworks through local comprehensive plans and performance-based policies that effectively provide critically needed increased homeownership opportunities.

In addressing the housing crisis for working class families, the community also benefits from added job creation, expanded tax revenues, etc. Let’s reassert our commitment to the American Dream and pave the way for a future where homeownership is not just a dream but a tangible reality for all. Let’s move beyond talk and take decisive action to build a more inclusive, prosperous community for generations to come.