The Phoenix City Council has approved a list of 150 City-owned vacant land parcels that could be used for affordable housing construction.
Some developers have already expressed interest, and City staff has plans to request proposals.
The Housing Phoenix Plan has a goal of creating or preserving 50,000 residential units by 2030. To date, the City says it has preserved or created 22,683.
In a September Council meeting, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said private developers have also increased housing production and that multifamily permit issuances have increased 64%.
Land costs are a key component in determining development costs and the final costs to rent or own a home after it is built. As vacant land in Phoenix becomes more scarce, the appeal of buying and building on City-owned land increases. Challenges remain, however, since any land has to be appropriately zoned for residential development.
With Maricopa County’s homeless population having increased 73% between 2016 and Jan. 2022, officials hope the combination of efforts will make progress toward addressing housing affordability. (Source)