Haley Lemieux
@haleylemieux.bsky.social
Policy director at Maryland Dept of Housing & Community Development 🦀🏡 / Montgomerian turned Anne Arundelian / Views strictly my own
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
Today it's official! Governor Abbott has signed SB840, Texas' residential-in-commercial zoning bill. It is not too dramatic to say that this bill will reshape the physical and economic geography of all major cities in Texas.
(Linked article for information: natlawreview.com/article/texa...)
(Linked article for information: natlawreview.com/article/texa...)
Texas Multifamily Revolution: Governor Abbot Considers Texas Senate Bill That Could Transform Zoning for Mixed-Use Residential / Multifamily Developments
Introduction to Texas Senate Bill SB 840
natlawreview.com
June 21, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Today it's official! Governor Abbott has signed SB840, Texas' residential-in-commercial zoning bill. It is not too dramatic to say that this bill will reshape the physical and economic geography of all major cities in Texas.
(Linked article for information: natlawreview.com/article/texa...)
(Linked article for information: natlawreview.com/article/texa...)
“Voice is not in & of itself a way to weigh tradeoffs. Progress involves ratifying tradeoffs that distribute burdens across communities, fair & unfair. Gov’t needs to be able to make decisions that impose costs & voice should not give any figure the ability to hijack process.”
April 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
“Voice is not in & of itself a way to weigh tradeoffs. Progress involves ratifying tradeoffs that distribute burdens across communities, fair & unfair. Gov’t needs to be able to make decisions that impose costs & voice should not give any figure the ability to hijack process.”
Alright, a (long) 🧵with some reflections on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session’s impact on housing stability. TLDR: Important progress, with the status quo also proving tenacious. (As always, these are personal views only).
April 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Alright, a (long) 🧵with some reflections on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session’s impact on housing stability. TLDR: Important progress, with the status quo also proving tenacious. (As always, these are personal views only).
Maryland polls conducted this winter have consistently emphasized that voters want solutions to the housing crisis.
New polling today from @ggwash.org confirm support for solutions in @govwesmoore.bsky.social's Housing for Jobs Act - 79% agree gov't should stick to clear/objective criteria.
New polling today from @ggwash.org confirm support for solutions in @govwesmoore.bsky.social's Housing for Jobs Act - 79% agree gov't should stick to clear/objective criteria.
March 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Maryland polls conducted this winter have consistently emphasized that voters want solutions to the housing crisis.
New polling today from @ggwash.org confirm support for solutions in @govwesmoore.bsky.social's Housing for Jobs Act - 79% agree gov't should stick to clear/objective criteria.
New polling today from @ggwash.org confirm support for solutions in @govwesmoore.bsky.social's Housing for Jobs Act - 79% agree gov't should stick to clear/objective criteria.
I'm not saying anything new here, but the mortgage interest rate deduction (1) is very regressive (benefits folks with the largest, most expensive homes the most); (2) has no actual demonstrated impact on homeownership for families; while (3) costing a LOT of $$.
t.co/raMeEEBnM9
t.co/raMeEEBnM9
February 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I'm not saying anything new here, but the mortgage interest rate deduction (1) is very regressive (benefits folks with the largest, most expensive homes the most); (2) has no actual demonstrated impact on homeownership for families; while (3) costing a LOT of $$.
t.co/raMeEEBnM9
t.co/raMeEEBnM9
“Our high affordability requirements only penciled at 6 stories and that was our baseline.”
The people of Cambridge are lucky to have a city council that cares seriously about the impacts of housing costs - and are willing to act.
The people of Cambridge are lucky to have a city council that cares seriously about the impacts of housing costs - and are willing to act.
I can’t believe it - after years of advocacy, exclusionary zoning has ended in Cambridge.
We just passed the single most comprehensive rezoning in the US—legalizing multifamily housing up to 6 stories citywide in a Paris style
Here’s the details 🧵
We just passed the single most comprehensive rezoning in the US—legalizing multifamily housing up to 6 stories citywide in a Paris style
Here’s the details 🧵
February 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
“Our high affordability requirements only penciled at 6 stories and that was our baseline.”
The people of Cambridge are lucky to have a city council that cares seriously about the impacts of housing costs - and are willing to act.
The people of Cambridge are lucky to have a city council that cares seriously about the impacts of housing costs - and are willing to act.
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
HUD is withdrawing its proposed AFFH rule, literally 2 years after putting it forward for public comment.
Rule would have required jurisdictions to develop equity plans to demonstrate fulfillment of the desegregatory policy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
Trump ppl have stated opposition to AFFH.
Rule would have required jurisdictions to develop equity plans to demonstrate fulfillment of the desegregatory policy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
Trump ppl have stated opposition to AFFH.
www.novoco.com
January 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
HUD is withdrawing its proposed AFFH rule, literally 2 years after putting it forward for public comment.
Rule would have required jurisdictions to develop equity plans to demonstrate fulfillment of the desegregatory policy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
Trump ppl have stated opposition to AFFH.
Rule would have required jurisdictions to develop equity plans to demonstrate fulfillment of the desegregatory policy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
Trump ppl have stated opposition to AFFH.
In very exciting news, Maryland was awarded $6.9M in funds from the HUD PRO Housing grant.
This money will go directly towards supporting local gov’ts across the state to reduce barriers to housing production. It will also fund TA & a statewide convening on best practices.
This money will go directly towards supporting local gov’ts across the state to reduce barriers to housing production. It will also fund TA & a statewide convening on best practices.
January 15, 2025 at 11:55 PM
In very exciting news, Maryland was awarded $6.9M in funds from the HUD PRO Housing grant.
This money will go directly towards supporting local gov’ts across the state to reduce barriers to housing production. It will also fund TA & a statewide convening on best practices.
This money will go directly towards supporting local gov’ts across the state to reduce barriers to housing production. It will also fund TA & a statewide convening on best practices.
Allowing more diverse housing types is a great solution to provide more homeownership opportunities for more income ranges.
In Montgomery County, sales prices vary significantly by home type (Redfin, Nov 2024):
- $791K single family home
- $500K townhouses
- $270K condos/coops
In Montgomery County, sales prices vary significantly by home type (Redfin, Nov 2024):
- $791K single family home
- $500K townhouses
- $270K condos/coops
January 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Allowing more diverse housing types is a great solution to provide more homeownership opportunities for more income ranges.
In Montgomery County, sales prices vary significantly by home type (Redfin, Nov 2024):
- $791K single family home
- $500K townhouses
- $270K condos/coops
In Montgomery County, sales prices vary significantly by home type (Redfin, Nov 2024):
- $791K single family home
- $500K townhouses
- $270K condos/coops
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
Spokane passed a bunch of housing reforms recently—eliminating parking minimums, increasing height maximums, reducing lot minimums, allowing more missing middle, & expanding property tax exemptions for new multifamily projects—and now they're building record amounts of housing
December 31, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Spokane passed a bunch of housing reforms recently—eliminating parking minimums, increasing height maximums, reducing lot minimums, allowing more missing middle, & expanding property tax exemptions for new multifamily projects—and now they're building record amounts of housing
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
“If state legislators had to pick just one…the winner was clear: Fully flexible parking resulted in more new homes than legalizing granny flats & larger multifamily buildings near transit combined, even when every new building still included some amount of parking.”
www.sightline.org/2024/12/10/p...
www.sightline.org/2024/12/10/p...
December 11, 2024 at 6:28 PM
“If state legislators had to pick just one…the winner was clear: Fully flexible parking resulted in more new homes than legalizing granny flats & larger multifamily buildings near transit combined, even when every new building still included some amount of parking.”
www.sightline.org/2024/12/10/p...
www.sightline.org/2024/12/10/p...
Great high-level overview of existing analyses on the impact of institutional investors purchasing single family homes (+ initial analysis of policy solution options):
localhousingsolutions.org/lab/notes/la...
localhousingsolutions.org/lab/notes/la...
Unpacking Investor Purchases of Single-Family Homes: What Does the Evidence Say? - Local Housing Solutions
As the country grapples with housing affordability and supply crises, housing advocates, policymakers, and researchers are examining trends in investor purchases of single-family homes. Large institut...
localhousingsolutions.org
December 19, 2024 at 1:22 AM
Great high-level overview of existing analyses on the impact of institutional investors purchasing single family homes (+ initial analysis of policy solution options):
localhousingsolutions.org/lab/notes/la...
localhousingsolutions.org/lab/notes/la...
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
Worth reading this in the context of the Chicago budget debate.
Besides the opportunity + segregation arguments, if Chicago had more widespread growth and development, the city would likely not be painfully debating $300 million in tax/fees and spending cuts
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Besides the opportunity + segregation arguments, if Chicago had more widespread growth and development, the city would likely not be painfully debating $300 million in tax/fees and spending cuts
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
In new work @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, I examine development in Chicago, showing its “three cities”:
—Intense development downtown
—Development blocked by restrictive zoning in wealthy neighborhoods
—Development nonexistent due to lack of market demand in poor areas www.urban.org/urban-wire/z...
—Intense development downtown
—Development blocked by restrictive zoning in wealthy neighborhoods
—Development nonexistent due to lack of market demand in poor areas www.urban.org/urban-wire/z...
December 11, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Worth reading this in the context of the Chicago budget debate.
Besides the opportunity + segregation arguments, if Chicago had more widespread growth and development, the city would likely not be painfully debating $300 million in tax/fees and spending cuts
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Besides the opportunity + segregation arguments, if Chicago had more widespread growth and development, the city would likely not be painfully debating $300 million in tax/fees and spending cuts
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
Great essay on "spare bedrooms" as the link b/t market-rate housing prices and rates of homelessness across cities.
worksinprogress.co/i...
worksinprogress.co/i...
Why housing shortages cause homelessness - Works in Progress
Why do high-cost cities have more homelessness? It's not just about rents — it’s also about the rooms friends and family can’t afford to share.
worksinprogress.co
December 5, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Great essay on "spare bedrooms" as the link b/t market-rate housing prices and rates of homelessness across cities.
worksinprogress.co/i...
worksinprogress.co/i...
Reposted by Haley Lemieux
Happy #MapMonday! (A former Twitter tradition that I'm happy to revive in this cheerier place). Here's a state map showing how much immigrants make up the construction trades workforce around the US, which is substantial in many high-demand states. Source: ACS 2023.
November 25, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Happy #MapMonday! (A former Twitter tradition that I'm happy to revive in this cheerier place). Here's a state map showing how much immigrants make up the construction trades workforce around the US, which is substantial in many high-demand states. Source: ACS 2023.
Early thoughts on the Scott Turner HUD appointment are that my personal concerns on 2.0 are mostly reaffirmed.
The vast majority of HUD’s work is providing long-term federal subsidy to house low-income people through rental assistance, public housing & homeless assistance. (1/)
The vast majority of HUD’s work is providing long-term federal subsidy to house low-income people through rental assistance, public housing & homeless assistance. (1/)
November 23, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Early thoughts on the Scott Turner HUD appointment are that my personal concerns on 2.0 are mostly reaffirmed.
The vast majority of HUD’s work is providing long-term federal subsidy to house low-income people through rental assistance, public housing & homeless assistance. (1/)
The vast majority of HUD’s work is providing long-term federal subsidy to house low-income people through rental assistance, public housing & homeless assistance. (1/)
Was very excited to see Baltimore City expand local investment in housing.
Uses won’t be finalized until FY26 & 27 budget adoption, but the current CIP forecasts the following:
🏗️ $13M Affordable Housing Trust Fund
🏠 $6M LIHTC gap financing
💵 $1M Perkins Somerset Choice neighborhood match
Uses won’t be finalized until FY26 & 27 budget adoption, but the current CIP forecasts the following:
🏗️ $13M Affordable Housing Trust Fund
🏠 $6M LIHTC gap financing
💵 $1M Perkins Somerset Choice neighborhood match
7/ 🏘️ Baltimore, MD: ✅
Baltimore approved $20M in bonds to support affordable housing. Adding affordable housing supply improves housing security for Baltimore residents in the long run.
Baltimore approved $20M in bonds to support affordable housing. Adding affordable housing supply improves housing security for Baltimore residents in the long run.
November 19, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Was very excited to see Baltimore City expand local investment in housing.
Uses won’t be finalized until FY26 & 27 budget adoption, but the current CIP forecasts the following:
🏗️ $13M Affordable Housing Trust Fund
🏠 $6M LIHTC gap financing
💵 $1M Perkins Somerset Choice neighborhood match
Uses won’t be finalized until FY26 & 27 budget adoption, but the current CIP forecasts the following:
🏗️ $13M Affordable Housing Trust Fund
🏠 $6M LIHTC gap financing
💵 $1M Perkins Somerset Choice neighborhood match
In Arlington, population growth + housing density + public transit → a reduction in traffic AND incredibly low traffic fatalities.
“Since 1980, 82% of new housing units have been in buildings with 5+ units”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
“Since 1980, 82% of new housing units have been in buildings with 5+ units”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
November 18, 2024 at 10:00 PM
In Arlington, population growth + housing density + public transit → a reduction in traffic AND incredibly low traffic fatalities.
“Since 1980, 82% of new housing units have been in buildings with 5+ units”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
“Since 1980, 82% of new housing units have been in buildings with 5+ units”
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
I do think this chart is more interesting about the 15 metros on the list vs. those not on the list.
More frequent assessments in a high existing tax rate environment (like TX) will capture higher ↑. Reassessment in eg NJ is a LOT less frequent - so full post-2020 home price ↑ aren’t captured.
More frequent assessments in a high existing tax rate environment (like TX) will capture higher ↑. Reassessment in eg NJ is a LOT less frequent - so full post-2020 home price ↑ aren’t captured.
November 15, 2024 at 4:03 PM
I do think this chart is more interesting about the 15 metros on the list vs. those not on the list.
More frequent assessments in a high existing tax rate environment (like TX) will capture higher ↑. Reassessment in eg NJ is a LOT less frequent - so full post-2020 home price ↑ aren’t captured.
More frequent assessments in a high existing tax rate environment (like TX) will capture higher ↑. Reassessment in eg NJ is a LOT less frequent - so full post-2020 home price ↑ aren’t captured.
👋 building a feed & starting to migrate over here
November 13, 2024 at 9:24 PM
👋 building a feed & starting to migrate over here