After months of delay, a pair of bills requiring—and incentivizing developers to build more affordable housing units will be presented before the full Baltimore City Council Tuesday, and could be called for a vote.
The bills are part of a package of what’s known as inclusionary housing legislation because they would require all new developments exceeding a certain size and value to reserve a portion of units for people earning below the Baltimore-area median income. Another bill would allow developers to apply for a property tax credit.
Jurisdictions around Maryland are racing to propose solutions to dueling housing supply and affordability challenges. Baltimore’s inclusionary housing discussion has been building since at least June 2022, after a previous inclusionary housing policy expired and has been strongly supported by several housing justice and advocacy groups.
Here are 3 things to know ahead of Tuesday’s City Council hearing.
What is the bill designed to do?
At its core, inclusionary housing policies aim to increase access to housing that otherwise may not be affordable to people who historically have been excluded from living in certain areas. Supporters of inclusionary housing say policies can reduce segregation, improve neighborhood diversity and add more legitimacy to the city’s tax credit and subsidy system, which typically benefits developers who build and manage properties in more affluent communities.