Jonathan Salmans
@salmansjonathan.bsky.social
Urbanist Blogger. Supports a more walkable, bike friendly Pittsburgh with better transit.
https://connect-pgh.com/
https://connect-pgh.com/
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Some of us are starting a Pro-Housing Philly grassroots pro-housing advocacy group here, and we're having a kick-off event next week on 6/3 at the Pen & Pencil Club. If you have liked or retweeted 5 pro-housing tweets in the last year, you have to come! actionnetwork.org/events/pro-h...
Pro-Housing Philly Kick-Off Event!
Hi everyone! Thanks for staying up to date with our first event, coming up on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30pm at the Pen and Pencil Club. Our goal from this first meeting is to give folks a chance to get to...
actionnetwork.org
May 27, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Some of us are starting a Pro-Housing Philly grassroots pro-housing advocacy group here, and we're having a kick-off event next week on 6/3 at the Pen & Pencil Club. If you have liked or retweeted 5 pro-housing tweets in the last year, you have to come! actionnetwork.org/events/pro-h...
Under Gainey's proposal, a property reassessment would trigger a massive tax cut for wealthy long-time homeowners, which would need to be made up by higher taxes on renters and people who've become homeowners more recently. (1/2)
"The goal, the mayor said, is to ensure that people who own homes in neighborhoods where property values are skyrocketing don’t find themselves struggling to pay their taxes if their property is reassessed."
triblive.com/local/gainey...
triblive.com/local/gainey...
Gainey announces plan to shield long-time Pittsburgh homeowners from property tax hikes
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday announced an initiative to protect longtime homeowners in the city from property tax hikes. The goal, the mayor said, is to ensure that people who own homes in nei...
triblive.com
March 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Under Gainey's proposal, a property reassessment would trigger a massive tax cut for wealthy long-time homeowners, which would need to be made up by higher taxes on renters and people who've become homeowners more recently. (1/2)
🧵One of the most impactful things Pittsburgh could do to help people afford housing is improve the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Thousands are currently on the waiting list for vouchers, but it is difficult to find enough landlords who will work with the program. (1/10)
February 6, 2025 at 3:52 AM
🧵One of the most impactful things Pittsburgh could do to help people afford housing is improve the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Thousands are currently on the waiting list for vouchers, but it is difficult to find enough landlords who will work with the program. (1/10)
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Good thread comparing PCRG's data with that in Pro-Housing Pittsburgh's IZ paper. The numbers are similar, with PHP's being more accurate overall.
Inclusionary Zoning in Pittsburgh
On Friday, PCRG released a report making the case for mandatory citywide Inclusionary Zoning static1.squarespace.com/static/5cbf1...
Today, @prohousingpgh.org released their updated report on the effects of Inclusionary Zoning.
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/inclusi...
On Friday, PCRG released a report making the case for mandatory citywide Inclusionary Zoning static1.squarespace.com/static/5cbf1...
Today, @prohousingpgh.org released their updated report on the effects of Inclusionary Zoning.
www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/inclusi...
static1.squarespace.com
January 31, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Good thread comparing PCRG's data with that in Pro-Housing Pittsburgh's IZ paper. The numbers are similar, with PHP's being more accurate overall.
Question for my followers: What Trump cabinet nominees should I write for my senators to support and which ones to oppose?
January 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Question for my followers: What Trump cabinet nominees should I write for my senators to support and which ones to oppose?
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
IZ in Pittsburgh is having the opposite of its intended effect.
For every 1 affordable unit IZ has created in Lawrenceville, it has killed ~7 market rate units.
Killing 7 market rate units kills 2 affordable units.
IZ is killing 2 affordable units for every 1 affordable unit it creates.
For every 1 affordable unit IZ has created in Lawrenceville, it has killed ~7 market rate units.
Killing 7 market rate units kills 2 affordable units.
IZ is killing 2 affordable units for every 1 affordable unit it creates.
January 16, 2025 at 12:46 PM
IZ in Pittsburgh is having the opposite of its intended effect.
For every 1 affordable unit IZ has created in Lawrenceville, it has killed ~7 market rate units.
Killing 7 market rate units kills 2 affordable units.
IZ is killing 2 affordable units for every 1 affordable unit it creates.
For every 1 affordable unit IZ has created in Lawrenceville, it has killed ~7 market rate units.
Killing 7 market rate units kills 2 affordable units.
IZ is killing 2 affordable units for every 1 affordable unit it creates.
Contrary to Barb's claim, the cost of the affordability mandate she advocates for is not tiny or properly compensated for by the government. Where it has been tried already, it has significantly reduced housing construction. Those harmed are primarily renters, not developers.
January 3, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Contrary to Barb's claim, the cost of the affordability mandate she advocates for is not tiny or properly compensated for by the government. Where it has been tried already, it has significantly reduced housing construction. Those harmed are primarily renters, not developers.
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
If you make it impossible to build housing then no amount of money will let you house the homeless.
If housing is plentiful, then it’s cheap to give it to people in need.
If housing is plentiful, then it’s cheap to give it to people in need.
December 29, 2024 at 5:44 PM
If you make it impossible to build housing then no amount of money will let you house the homeless.
If housing is plentiful, then it’s cheap to give it to people in need.
If housing is plentiful, then it’s cheap to give it to people in need.
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Filtering does not depend on a closed market to work. If a policy reduces the amount of new housing, then new residents moving to Pittsburgh either displace existing residents (bad), or they don't come (also bad). New housing reduces prices for all income levels and allows new residents.
December 29, 2024 at 10:50 PM
Filtering does not depend on a closed market to work. If a policy reduces the amount of new housing, then new residents moving to Pittsburgh either displace existing residents (bad), or they don't come (also bad). New housing reduces prices for all income levels and allows new residents.
Pittsburgh's Deputy Mayor
@jakepawlak.com
demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of both how new residents benefit Pittsburgh and of how the housing market works. It is also myopic parochial nativism to dismiss benefits to people not born in Pittsburgh. 🧵
@jakepawlak.com
demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of both how new residents benefit Pittsburgh and of how the housing market works. It is also myopic parochial nativism to dismiss benefits to people not born in Pittsburgh. 🧵
It's wild to me that this administration hates people from outside of the city so much that they now accuse them of causing the housing crisis here. I would love to have a mayor who actively encourages folks to move to our great city.
December 29, 2024 at 4:36 AM
Pittsburgh's Deputy Mayor
@jakepawlak.com
demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of both how new residents benefit Pittsburgh and of how the housing market works. It is also myopic parochial nativism to dismiss benefits to people not born in Pittsburgh. 🧵
@jakepawlak.com
demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of both how new residents benefit Pittsburgh and of how the housing market works. It is also myopic parochial nativism to dismiss benefits to people not born in Pittsburgh. 🧵
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Originally a 30-townhome development, now planned as a 19-townhome development in Polish Hill (downsized to avoid IZ). Now the neighborhood is trying to kill it all together with a bad-faith historic designation for this building. Link in 🧵
December 17, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Originally a 30-townhome development, now planned as a 19-townhome development in Polish Hill (downsized to avoid IZ). Now the neighborhood is trying to kill it all together with a bad-faith historic designation for this building. Link in 🧵
Legalize these in Pittsburgh please!
My current favorite 4-plex or 6-plex design:
1230sf, 3BR+Office/2BA
And at 54' wide ... means it can fit on a 6000sf single family lot or a mixed-use area with ground floor retail
1230sf, 3BR+Office/2BA
And at 54' wide ... means it can fit on a 6000sf single family lot or a mixed-use area with ground floor retail
December 13, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Legalize these in Pittsburgh please!
Ownership IZ units don't appreciate, which can make it hard for owners to sell their units. An example of how IZ can harm even the people who end up with affordable units.
today’s story of IZ condo units gone wrong: www.reddit.com/r/washington...
From the washingtondc community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the washingtondc community
www.reddit.com
December 13, 2024 at 3:33 AM
Ownership IZ units don't appreciate, which can make it hard for owners to sell their units. An example of how IZ can harm even the people who end up with affordable units.
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Good vandalism
December 11, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Good vandalism
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
6 good policies for addressing the Housing Crisis in Pittsburgh
1. Removing parking minimums
2. Getting rid of minimum lot sizes
3. Eliminating setbacks
4. Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning with incentives
5. Land Value Taxes
6. Fair, regular, frequent tax assessments
1. Removing parking minimums
2. Getting rid of minimum lot sizes
3. Eliminating setbacks
4. Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning with incentives
5. Land Value Taxes
6. Fair, regular, frequent tax assessments
December 12, 2024 at 12:18 AM
6 good policies for addressing the Housing Crisis in Pittsburgh
1. Removing parking minimums
2. Getting rid of minimum lot sizes
3. Eliminating setbacks
4. Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning with incentives
5. Land Value Taxes
6. Fair, regular, frequent tax assessments
1. Removing parking minimums
2. Getting rid of minimum lot sizes
3. Eliminating setbacks
4. Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning with incentives
5. Land Value Taxes
6. Fair, regular, frequent tax assessments
Good interview of David Vatz on the Mayor’s "Inclusionary [sic] Zoning" proposal. By requiring developers to sell a portion of new units at a loss, this policy would halt housing construction, worsen affordability, and weaken our tax base.
It was great to join the Marty Griffin (KDKA News Radio) show this morning to talk about the @prohousingpgh.org IZ study, and why the Mayor's proposal to extend IZ citywide has the potential to harm housing production and increase costs across our city. Listen here: www.youtube.com/live/4FwBpzb...
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December 10, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Good interview of David Vatz on the Mayor’s "Inclusionary [sic] Zoning" proposal. By requiring developers to sell a portion of new units at a loss, this policy would halt housing construction, worsen affordability, and weaken our tax base.
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
My dad sends me the most adorable investment advice. He should have a column. It always ends with shit like “I know it’s out of style but sleep is the key to health. Assets are there to help you sleep better, not to give you one more thing to worry about.”
December 8, 2024 at 4:06 PM
My dad sends me the most adorable investment advice. He should have a column. It always ends with shit like “I know it’s out of style but sleep is the key to health. Assets are there to help you sleep better, not to give you one more thing to worry about.”
This is one of my concerns with the proposals to change Colfax into a middleschool. Having an elementary school in Squirrel Hill helps keep it a walkable neighborhood.
Walkable neighborhoods requires building BOTH more, smaller, houses and more, smaller, schools
If elementary schools are not dense enough to be walkable then a community can’t be walkable … and a place that isn’t designed to accommodate children is not a REAL city
If elementary schools are not dense enough to be walkable then a community can’t be walkable … and a place that isn’t designed to accommodate children is not a REAL city
December 8, 2024 at 2:12 AM
This is one of my concerns with the proposals to change Colfax into a middleschool. Having an elementary school in Squirrel Hill helps keep it a walkable neighborhood.
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
Reposted by Jonathan Salmans
While I certainly appreciate studies, statistics, etc regarding housing policy, I think there's room for anecdotes to demonstrate the potential benefits and pitfalls of different policy.
Inclusionary zoning in Pittsburgh is a hot topic right now and we have a recent example of what can go wrong!
Inclusionary zoning in Pittsburgh is a hot topic right now and we have a recent example of what can go wrong!
December 3, 2024 at 6:21 PM
While I certainly appreciate studies, statistics, etc regarding housing policy, I think there's room for anecdotes to demonstrate the potential benefits and pitfalls of different policy.
Inclusionary zoning in Pittsburgh is a hot topic right now and we have a recent example of what can go wrong!
Inclusionary zoning in Pittsburgh is a hot topic right now and we have a recent example of what can go wrong!
Pro-Housing Pittsburgh has done some really impressive work evaluating the impact of the IZ program that was implemented in Lawrenceville in 2019. The program significantly reduced housing construction and worsened affordability. 1/2
Pittsburgh's IZ mandate in Lawrenceville has reduced housing production by 32% since 2019. Extending IZ citywide in its current form will increase prices and harm affordability. Read our research on the topic here: prohousingpgh.org/pittsburgh-i...
December 5, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Pro-Housing Pittsburgh has done some really impressive work evaluating the impact of the IZ program that was implemented in Lawrenceville in 2019. The program significantly reduced housing construction and worsened affordability. 1/2
This is just not true. The academic research overwhelmingly shows that new supply lowers prices. A good overview of the literature can be found here: www.noahpinion.blog/p/luxury-con...
December 5, 2024 at 2:49 AM
This is just not true. The academic research overwhelmingly shows that new supply lowers prices. A good overview of the literature can be found here: www.noahpinion.blog/p/luxury-con...
Great list of state level pro housing legislation that is being considered in Pennsylvania.
You are 100% correct. This is why it's absolutely essential for Pennsylvania to act now to keep housing more affordable by legalizing more of it across the Commonwealth. Rep Siegel from Allentown has been doing the good work on this so far this year: www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legi...
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
www.legis.state.pa.us
November 30, 2024 at 3:07 AM
Great list of state level pro housing legislation that is being considered in Pennsylvania.