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Originally Posted by aerogt3
Amazed how the city decides to put so many affordable units in glitzy downtown high rises. There are 50 affordable units at 15th & Island alone... that has to be one of the least cost effective places.
Wouldn't it be better to offer 80 units in north park rather than 50 in downtown? Not saying all the affordable units should be shoved into a ghetto, but they shouldn't go into one of the most expensive areas in the city, either. It seems like the same amount of money could be used to help a lot more people.
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I've wondered about this too before. I read an article where the commentators wondered why SD invests in more expensive locations rather than far-flung areas where land is cheaper. The answer revolved around the realities of those needing affordable housing, and the communities who are unwilling to accept them.
Downtown is ideal for affordable housing development because many of the social services that low-income people/families need are located in the immediate area. Also, a person living in subsidized housing is less likely to have a car, which means you need relatively good transportation services nearby - which is less likely in rural or suburban areas.
Meanwhile, other communities tend to oppose affordable housing (and any market rate housing in general) over fears of crime and property devaluation. Poor people are (unfortunately) the pariahs of many in community planning groups. You can see this in Uptown especially, where newer projects opt for paying the fee, rather than having their projects opposed because they would include two or three affordable units.
Downtown is in a unique situation because it's an already established mix-income community, with reliable mass transit, embedded social services, and a robust, pro-growth planning group. That's what makes affordable housing more likely to appear in some of the most expensive real estate in the county.
And to be honest, that's not bad. It makes for a more egalitarian society, and promotes urban living for all - not just the exclusive right for retired, second home, Arizona sunbirds. The cost per unit is ridiculous (300k+), but the long term benefits are greater. I do think more uptown and urban core neighborhoods should be building more units, both affordable and otherwise. But selfish property owners have a stranglehold on housing development, and that won't change any time soon.