ARTICLE
In a stunning work session, the Portland City Council voted 4-1 to defeat Commissioner Fritz’s attempt to force middle housing to install separate water meters. The proposal, which was widely seen as an anti-middle housing ploy, was resoundingly rejected. HBA worked with a diverse coalition of builders, non-profit developers, YIMBY activists, tenants' rights groups, and others to push back against the requirement of costly infrastructure in new construction. The defeat demonstrates the City Council’s willingness to oppose colleague who has for years fought against all things housing. It also shows that - when we work together in a collaborative way - we can win at City Hall. HBA members have (with good reason) long voiced concerns about the anti-housing sentiment in Portland. We believe the tide is changing, and the recent elections of Mingus Mapps, Carmen Rubio, and Dan Ryan to the City Council signal a new normal in the “weird” city. To learn more about HBA's work in Portland, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.