Law360: States Override Localities to Encourage Alt Housing Models

Neill Brower, partner in the Land Use and Environmental Groups with Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell LLP, was recently quoted in the Law360 article, “States Override Localities to Encourage Alt Housing Models.” The article examines the barriers to alternative housing models at the local level and what states can do to help with the housing affordability crisis.

Brower told Law360 that these barriers speak to underlying fears over additional density. He went on to say, “People who are most likely to vote in cities love and want to maintain the single-family character of broad swaths of the city. At hearings, when you have neighbors and community members testifying, they’re fairly explicit about these things.”

Some states are passing legislation to relegalize alternative housing models such as ADUs to get residents comfortable with the development. Brower said, “Something like an ADU can provide an easier on-ramp or easier conceptual leap for increases in density.”

Read the full Law360 article here (subscription required).