Homeownership has been tied to the American dream for decades, just the recession and enduringly volatile existent manor market has made information technology harder for many Americans go on a roof over their heads, let solitary sign their names to a deed. Meanwhile, for renters, an endless cycle of gentrification and displacement has fueled urban inequity for decades.

But there are notwithstanding glimmers of hope for affordable housing, and this calendar week the Obama Administration offered 1–in the form of a document called the Housing Development Toolkit. Information technology'south a game plan for fixing the broken policies that have fueled the housing crisis across the country.

"Over the past three decades, local barriers to housing evolution have intensified, specially in the high-growth metropolitan areas increasingly fueling the national economy," the report states. "The accumulation of such barriers–including zoning, other country use regulations, and lengthy evolution approving processes–has reduced the power of many housing markets to answer to growing demand."

By and large, the proposals aren't new; progressive cities accept been implementing many of the strategies–like densification, inclusionary zoning, and changing off-street parking laws–for years. Yet to some stubborn cities, the White House's postage of approval on the practices might lend an air of legitimacy–or at least some sorely needed evidence to convince NIMBY constituents.

Hither'south how the White House is trying to remake our cities–and the precedent-setting projects that prove the ideas can work.

[Photo: Flickr user radcliffe dacanay]

1. Put Our Backyards To Work

Idea: The White House suggests assuasive accompaniment dwelling units (ADUs)–a secondary unit on a lot–to beef upwards housing supply. This type of development densifies neighborhoods while respecting the scale of existing structures.

Cities That Take Done It: Cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Austin are revisiting zoning codes to allow ADUs, increasing the number of rental units on the marketplace.

[Photo: Sergee Bee via Unsplash]

2. Eliminate Primitive Parking Requirements

Idea: Many of our modern-solar day zoning codes were authored in the 1950s, the heyday of the automotive era, and ofttimes require businesses to build a certain number of parking spaces. In addition to beingness expensive–costs range from $5,000 per surface parking spot to $sixty,000 cloak-and-dagger–it eats up land that could otherwise be used to develop housing.

Cities That Have Done It: A few years ago, Sacramento adapted its parking requirements to base those standards off of mobility zones–making it easier to build housing projects without parking in high-density areas. Seattle voted to change its parking laws in 2012 afterward a study institute that requirements could increase the rental toll of an apartment unit of measurement by as much as 50%.

[Photo: Flickr user teofilo]

three. Taxation Vacant Land

Idea: Empty lots are wasted opportunities to build housing or other urban amenities, like parks or community gardens. Vacant land tin can reduce property values, according to the White House's report, and vacant backdrop–which owners often concord on to for real estate speculation–could be meliorate used if inhabited. Simply if owners don't want to put these properties to employ? They should have to pay a tax, encouraging them not to allow their lots sit empty.

Cities That Take Done It: In New Orleans, builder Jonathan Tate looked for oddly shaped vacant lots to build houses. Because of the difficult sites, the cost of land was relatively low, which yielded a lower development cost for the completed house. On the other manus, some cities accept levied taxes on vacant properties to dissuade owners from keeping them empty.

[Photograph: Kimson Doan via Unsplash]

4. Expedite The Permitting Process

Idea: It tin can often accept months or even years to secure the necessary permits to begin construction. Time is money, and the longer a project waits on the drawing board, the less probable a developer is willing to take it on. By streamlining the process, the White House argues, we could add more than housing to the market place faster. And applying the expedited process to a specific type of building could encourage the correct type of evolution, like special fast tracks for affordable housing.

Cities That Accept Done Information technology: Austin created a policy in 2000 that waived fees and expedited the permitting process for low-income housing. Nearly 5,000 units accept been congenital under this plan.

[Photo: Daryan Shamkhali via Unsplash]

5. Implement Inclusionary Zoning

Thought: "Inclusionary" zoning stipulates that a sure number of affordable units are included in a market-rate development. This helps neighborhoods remain economically diverse, in theory, and keeps low-income earners close to their jobs.

Cities That Have Washed It: Cities like New York have sparked housing development with inclusionary zoning. All the same the exercise has yielded criticism for not producing a high enough ratio of affordable to market-rate housing and for an epidemic of "poor doors," which requite preference to high-paying tenants, that further divides neighborhoods.

You lot can read the full report right here.