News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
12/16/2021 Member News

HBA, PBUD, and Build Small Coalition Testify in Solidarity on Recommended Changes to Portland Middle Housing Proposal


On December 14th, the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission took testimony from the public on the recently released RIP2 draft proposal. Over 25 members of the community testified with all but two supporting the changes offered in the proposal, but suggesting that additional changes be made to allow for more flexibility in housing placement, design, and type so that more units can be built to address the housing crisis. In addition, some of the requested changes spoke to making townhouses and “plexes” more economically viable, including a request for duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes to be allowed as detached units which is allowed but not required under HB 2001.

These changes and some others referenced by testifiers are intended to offer more opportunities for expedited land divisions allowed under SB 458, intended to create more home ownership opportunities for more Portlanders at more affordable price points. In response to some committee and testifer comments regarding the need for equity in home ownership opportunities, HBA and other members of the Metro Build Small Coalition explained that the most effective way to build individual and generational wealth is through home ownership and encouraged the commission to adopt the recommended changes to allow for more home ownership opportunities.

In addition to verbal testimony, HBA and the Metro Build Small Coalition also submitted written testimony to the committee.

HBA Testimony
Metro BSC Testimony

For more information or to participate in future PBUD meetings contact Ryan Makinster, Ryanm@hbapdx.org.