Chairman Abney introduces bill to increase affordable housing units

Bill is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s legislative package addressing the housing crisis in Rhode Island

 

            STATE HOUSE – Rep. Marvin L. Abney, Chairman of the House Finance Committee, has introduced a bill which would increase the number of allowable units per acre for all housing projects subject to inclusionary zoning. 

            The bill is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) 14-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.

            Inclusionary zoning is the practice of ensuring that housing projects proceed with a mix of residents representing different economic backgrounds and circumstances.  For instance, inclusionary zoning requires a certain percentage of units in new developments be reserved for low- or moderate-income individuals and households.

            According to data from Housing Works RI, the median income in Rhode Island in 2021 was $70,305, yet “low-income” households make less than $50,000 in median income and “moderate income” households earn less than $80,000.  As Chairman Abney points out, a single working mother with two children and earning $47,000 would make less than 60 percent of the area median income and would be considered a moderate-income household.  That family would be unable to purchase a home in any of the state’s 39 cities and towns.

            This legislation would allow developers to build more units per acre if a certain percentage of those units are set aside for low- and moderate-income houses.

            “Our state cannot succeed if our residents and workers cannot afford to live here, it’s as simple as that.  This legislation will incentivize further and expanded development of low- and moderate-income housing that is desperately needed in Rhode Island so that everyone is able to live, work and raise their families in our state.  This crucial change in how we develop affordable housing is a long time coming and I applaud Speaker Shekarchi for his focus on correcting the growing and concerning housing crisis,” said Chairman Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown).

            The legislation (2023-H 6058) makes amendments to the inclusionary zoning statute to require a base density bonus of at least a 30 percent increase in allowed dwelling units per acre, as well as other incentives for the development of much-needed affordable housing.

The bill does not change the process or permitting by municipalities, or take funds away for use for affordable housing within the municipality. The legislation would be effective January 1, 2024.

            Chairman Abney’s bill will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow (Tuesday, March 28) at the RISE of the House (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 101 of the State House.

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says amendments to legislation to raise the debt limit will be voted on Thursday night. There will be 11 amendments to the bill being voted on, with votes limited to ten minutes to ensure a speedy process as efforts continue to pass the bill as early as Thursday night. The legislation suspends the debt ceiling and cuts non defense discretionary spending over the next two years.        President Biden appears to be ok after taking a fall while standing onstage during the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado today. The president gave the commencement speech and shook hands with graduates as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Toward the end of the ceremony, the president appeared to trip and fall on stage and was helped up by people standing close by.       Former President Trump is hitting the campaign trail in Iowa today. While speaking from Des Moines, Trump laid out how he helped U.S. farmers during his time as president. He railed against President Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who's challenging Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.        The city of Tulsa is marking the one-year anniversary of a hospital shooting that left four people dead, before the gunman killed himself. Since the shootings, Saint Francis Hospital President and CEO Dr. Preston Phillips says they have looked at areas where security can be increased. As the anniversary approached, the hospital set up a blog for employees to express their feelings and to support each other.        Teen birthrates are at another record low in the U.S. The CDC reports teen birthrates dropped three-percent last year. That's a smaller drop than previous years as teen birthrates have fallen an average of eight-percent each year since 2007.        Journalists for Gannett are walking off the job next week in a strike. The company's workers union is calling on the media giant, which owns USA Today and hundreds of local and metro daily newspapers, to issue a vote of no confidence in its CEO. They're accusing Mike Reed of "gross mismanagement" ahead of the company's annual shareholders meeting on June 5th.