A Pattern Language for Housing Affordability: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Alexander--A-Pattern-Language-book-cover.jpg|thumb|right|250px300px|Alexander, et al. A Pattern Language, 1977]]
this article is part of the collection / book in progress,&nbsp;[[Village_Buildings|Village Buildings]].&nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> <- Previous article&nbsp; &nbsp; [[Village_Buildings|Table of Contents]]&nbsp; &nbsp; Next article ->&nbsp;<br/> &nbsp;
 
this is part of the article collection [[Village_Buildings|Village Buildings]].
[[File:Alexander--A-Pattern-Language-book-cover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Alexander, et al. A Pattern Language, 1977]]
 
== Introduction ==
"A&nbsp;'''pattern language'''&nbsp;is a method of describing good design practices or patterns of useful organization within a field of expertise. The term was coined by architect&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander Christopher Alexander]&nbsp;and popularized by his 1977 book&nbsp;''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language A Pattern Language]''."&nbsp; Patterns "are in essence a way of capturing useful knowledge about the nature of a design problem, and expressing it in a way that can be easily shared and adapted to new contexts." (Mehaffy 2019).&nbsp;
 
"A&nbsp;'''pattern language'''&nbsp;is a method of describing good design practices or patterns of useful organization within a field of expertise. The term was coined by architect&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander Christopher Alexander]&nbsp;and popularized by his 1977 book&nbsp;''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language A Pattern Language]''." (-Wikipedia).&nbsp; Patterns "are in essence a way of capturing useful knowledge about the nature of a design problem, and expressing it in a way that can be easily shared and adapted to new contexts." (Mehaffy 2019). Alexander et al's 'patterns' concept has been widely applied in&nbsp;software development and other fields, and inspired the&nbsp;invention of the wiki, by Portland programmer Ward Cunningham for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Pattern_Repository Portland Patterns Repository].&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Alexander et al's 'patterns' concept was a key inspiration for the object-oriented paradigm now prevalent in&nbsp;software development, and the invention of the wiki by Portland programmer Ward Cunningham.&nbsp;
 
[[File:APLFGR-Cover.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Pattern Language For Growing Regions]]
Mehaffy talks about wikis and pattern-languages as tools for "consensus development." In that vein, I've been thinking with this book concept about how to show varied patterns - from public housing to 'abundant' market housing - as all being possible sources of or factors in affordability. As integrable, instead of conflicting, ideas/approaches.
 
Here we&nbsp;are&nbsp;attempting to derive a pattern language to map ''all possible ways to make&nbsp;housing affordable''. Affordability is of course not the ''only'' problem or goal people have in housing or housing policy;&nbsp; people also seek housing quality, good design, housing that helps create community or builds wealth, or which helps employment and economic growth in an area, or which contributes to&nbsp;environmental sustainability, etc.&nbsp;Even closer to&nbsp;'affordability,' one might choose different lenses such as anti-displacement, housing security, housing for all, adequate housing, attainable housing. Nevertheless, affordability (or the somewhat ambigious "affordable housing") is a pervasive concern and framing, and what we choose to focus on here.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
 
Since affordability is defined by ratio of housing costs (perhaps including transportation) to income or wealth, of course a major way to help affordability is to increase the income/wealth of the less well-off. However, since this extends far into the realm of general economic/social policy, here we consider that outside of scope; except for the pattern of housing benefits (e.g. vouchers), which could and some argue should be done with general income benefits such as Earned Income Tax Credit. [this would tend to support people making their own determination of housing type/price that serves their needs, which is aligned with many of other patterns].
== Land-use reform ==
 
This&nbsp;''affordability pattern language&nbsp;''could be integrated with or extended to other pattern languages that describe other issues in housing or cities. For exampple,&nbsp;Wiki inventor Ward Cunningham, and fellow Portlander, urbanist, & architectural theorist Michael Mehaffy have been working with others on a new pattern language and online pattern repository,&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions&nbsp;''(''APLGR;&nbsp;''[http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html draft version online], printed book forthcoming 2019). The&nbsp;affordability pattern language here could potentially be integrated&nbsp;with&nbsp;''APLGR,&nbsp;''and others pattern languages such as a proposed "[[Portland_Civic_Patterns_Repository|Portland Civic Patterns Repository]]" ''[citation needed] ''to describe approaches for civic governance and engagement.&nbsp;
 
Mehaffy talks about wikis and pattern- languages as tools for "consensus development." ''[citation needed]''. In that vein, I'veone beenof thinkingthe withpurposes of this book conceptaffordability aboutpattern howlanguage&nbsp;is to showsuggest that quite varied patterns -- from public housing to 'abundant' market housing -- as may&nbsp;all being possible be&nbsp;sources of or factors in affordability., Asand integrableconsidered practically rather than ideologically, insteadthey ofmight conflictingoften be combined in various ways, ideas/approachesin a project or an environment.&nbsp;<br/> <br/> &nbsp;
 
== Housing Affordability Patterns ==
 
=== Land-use reform ===
 
(including building regulations reform)
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1970s-present
 
=== <br/> Mobility improvement ===
 
Historically, many key improvements in affordability have arisen due to new transportation methods opening up new areas for residential development. For example: horse-drawn and then electric streetcars, subways / urban and commuter rail transit, and mass automobile ownership and freeways.&nbsp;Mobility improvement may be increased not only by the advent of major new transport technologies, but by more incremental improvements such as Bus Rapid Transit, or transit-oriented right-of-way design, or policies to subsidize transit.&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
 
=== Financial reform & innovation&nbsp; ===
 
Tax preferences/incentives for affordable & non-profit housing.
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Cooperative financing/development. &nbsp;(cf German regulations facilitating).&nbsp;
 
Private for-profit or non-profit financing methods, e.g. currently there is a wave of ventures offering forms of shared equity or financial partnership to assist&nbsp;homebuyers.&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
 
=== Non-profit & Public housing; use of public land ===
 
[Bondcan be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")].
 
&nbsp;
 
=== Vouchers & direct subsidy: local, state, and/or Federal&nbsp; ===
 
a 'choice' strategy. &nbsp;
 
[Bondcan be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")]<br/> &nbsp;
 
See [[Income-based_housing_benefit|Income-based housing benefit]], and subsection "[https://www.yimby.wiki/wiki/Income-based_housing_benefit#proposed_Oregon_rental_assistance.C2.A0program_.282019.29 proposed Oregon rental assistance program (2019)]."&nbsp;
== Mixed-income housing ==
 
&nbsp;
public or private developed, e.g. Vanport, Headwaters, Aloha Park<br/> &nbsp;
 
=== Mixed-income housing ===
== Rent regulation&nbsp; ==
 
public or private developed, e.g. Portland's Vanport, Headwaters Apartments/Village, Aloha Park Apartments (and other 1960s/70s Section 238 developments).<br/> &nbsp;
Oregon passes nation's 1st statewide rent control in 2019. &nbsp; &nbsp;
 
=== <br/>Rent Inclusionary housingregulation&nbsp; ===
 
Oregon passes nation's 1st statewide rent control regulation&nbsp;in 2019. &nbsp; &nbsp;
 
=== <br/> Inclusionary housing&nbsp; ===
 
mandated, incented, or purchased. Example of Pearl District. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
 
=== Lot division & 'condoization'&nbsp; ===
 
Portland lot-division / narrow lots program.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
 
=== Sharing / Congregate housing&nbsp; ===
 
SRO, co-housing, co-living.
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&nbsp;
 
=== Cooperative housing ===
 
e.g. Emerald Village, Eugene.&nbsp;
 
SquareOne Villages CLT-LEC model (Community Land Trust, Limited Equity Cooperative).&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
 
=== Accessory Dwellings ===
 
Self-, startup-, or public-financed. "Backdoor revolution."
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&nbsp;
 
=== Community Land Trusts, deed restrictions, limited/shared equity&nbsp; ===
 
Cully Land Trust, Emerald Village&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
 
=== Privately-developed affordable housing ===
 
built w/out subsidy. Guerrilla Development, Rob Justus / Home First.
 
&nbsp;
 
=== Interim, mobile, or redeployable housing ===
 
POD, PAD Initiatives, Opportunity Village, OR Tiny House Code.
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&nbsp;
 
=== Alternative design & technologies ===
 
modular, manufactured, pre-fab, etc.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
 
=== Informal, self-build, & incremental housing<br/> &nbsp; ===
 
*&nbsp;
Abundant, or "Naturally occurring affordable" housing
 
=== Abundant, or "Naturally occurring affordable" housing ===
 
Housing for all.
 
&nbsp;
 
== Strategic Economics "Housing Tools & Strategies" Report 2019 ==
 
Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. &nbsp;January 2019. &nbsp;[https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.  https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.&nbsp;]
 
--Zoning Strategies for Market Rate Housing Production&nbsp;<br/> Streamlined Permitting Process<br/> Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance<br/> Graduated Density Zoning<br/> Tweak traditional zoning code to encourage Missing Middle development&nbsp;<br/> Form-based codes<br/> Mixed Use Zoning<br/> Reduced or Flexible Minimum Parking Requirements
 
--Tax/Fee Exemptions and Other Incentives<br/> Reduce impact fees/ systems development charges<br/> Delay impact fees/systems development charges<br/> Property tax exemptions
 
--Affordable Housing Production Strategies<br/> Density Bonus Ordinances<br/> Affordable Housing Overlay Zone<br/> Inclusionary Zoning<br/> Workforce Housing Initiatives
 
--Local Affordable Housing Funding Strategies<br/> Reduced Fees or Waivers<br/> General Fund Allocation<br/> In-Lieu Fees - Inclusionary Zoning<br/> Residential Impact Fee for Affordable Housing<br/> Commercial Development Impact Fee / Commercial Linkage Fee<br/> Residential Construction Excise Tax<br/> Commercial/ Industrial Construction Excise Tax<br/> Affordable Housing Bond
 
--Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing Units<br/> Condominium Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections<br/> Mobilehome Park Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections<br/> Single-Room Occupancy Conversion Controls / Preservation<br/> Acquisition/ Preservation of DeedRestricted Units<br/> Acquisition/ Preservation of "Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing"&nbsp;<br/> Community Land Trust (CLT)<br/> Short-term Rental Restrictions
 
--Tenant Protections and Support<br/> Rent Stabilization<br/> Mobile Home Park Rent Control&nbsp;<br/> Just Cause Eviction and Harassment Protections<br/> Proactive Code Enforcement<br/> Limit Discrimination Based on Source of Income
 
--Homeowner Support<br/> Homeowner Assistance Programs<br/> Housing Rehabilitation Funds
 
--Other&nbsp;<br/> Home sharing programs<br/> Vacant Unit Tax&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;
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== References&nbsp; ==
 
*Alexander, Christopher, and Murray Silverstein, Shlomo Angel, Sara Ishikawa, Denny Abrams (1977).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language.&nbsp;''<br/> &nbsp;
*Mehaffy, Michael W. (2019).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions'' [''And Introducing An Online Repository of New Patterns'']. Sustasis Press, 2019. &nbsp;[draft copy]. [http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html. http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html.&nbsp;]<br/> &nbsp;
*&nbsp;
*Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. &nbsp;January 2019. &nbsp;[https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.  https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.&nbsp;]<br/> &nbsp;
 
*Wikipedia. "Pattern language." accessed 17 November, 2019.&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_language https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_language].&nbsp;
Mehaffy, Michael W. (2019).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions'' [''And Introducing An Online Repository of New Patterns'']. Sustasis Press, 2019. &nbsp;[draft copy]. [http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html. http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html.&nbsp;]
 
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