House Bill 1110: Why Is It a Big Deal?
A rowhouse building. (Credit: Sound Transit)
Earlier this year, Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1110, marking an important step towards increased availability of more affordable housing in the state. House Bill 1110, also referred to as the “Middle Housing Bill,” aims to increase more multifamily developments on areas of land previously exclusively zoned for single-family residential usage. The bill’s major aim is to increase housing inventory—and more specifically, affordable housing—which remains one of Seattle’s biggest current problems.
“Middle housing” is a term used to describe housing units like townhouses, duplexes, quadplexes, etc., that are in between single-family homes and large multifamily developments. These units fit well in form and usage in residential neighborhoods. The bill forces the city to allow the development of middle housing on residential lots (up to four-unit or six-unit housing depending on the city size and the lot’s distance from a public transit stop), meaning builders will now be able to build more housing without some of the restrictions faced previously.
For Seattle, a city with a population of approximately 750,000, the residents that inhabit the city represent a remarkably diverse economic picture. Of course, Seattle is known for its strong tech industry, with employers like Microsoft and Amazon generating jobs, employing citizens, and allowing many people to purchase property. However, in a city that has become increasingly unaffordable for many people who are not earning a tech-company salary, purchasing a single-family residence within the city, especially given the current high mortgage interest rates, is just not currently possible. The lack of inventory means more demand and competition, and those who cannot pay the high sales price are pushed out of the market. In urban settings, increased density is the new reality, and pushing against it will only decrease livability in the city, rather than progressing with our new normal.
A 2018 study by Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University breaks down the ways in which multifamily units use less energy than single-family residences, and furthermore, newer multifamily units use 24% less energy than older multifamily units. Studies like these affirm that multifamily development not only is crucial in solving the housing shortage but also important as we work towards creating more sustainable cities. Bills like the Middle Housing Bill reduce the barriers that impede developers from building newer—and greener—multifamily buildings that allow for more affordable, sustainable living within urban areas.
As more bills like the Middle Housing Bill are passed, the quest to develop greener, affordable housing in Seattle becomes more achievable, with fewer restrictions and barriers hindering developers who are looking to do their part in solving the housing shortage issue. If you’d like to discuss how this bill could affect the market or any other recent real estate news, please reach out to me.