In this article, Cullum Clark, Director, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, explains how new Dallas housing policy points are headed in the right direction, but there's little to say for ongoing problems like permitting and mixed-housing goals.
“A housing policy set to go before the Dallas City Council on Wednesday represents a small step forward on the city’s housing challenges. But as always, the devil’s in the details — and the city has numerous details to work out if the proposal passes.
“The city’s “Dallas Housing Policy 2033″ accurately diagnoses Dallas’ housing problems: inadequate supply, deepening unaffordability, racial segregation and disparities, low homeownership among lower-income and minority communities, and underdeveloped tools for building subsidized units and preserving “naturally occurring” affordable housing. The policy will help address these challenges if city government implements it effectively.
“But policymakers need to revisit issues the policy neglects or under-emphasizes. These include engaging the private and nonprofit sectors on attainable housing, pursuing explicit production goals, tackling supply barriers, and finding money to pay for it all.”
