new phoenix plan pushes for sweeping housing construction effort

Phoenix needs to build at least 163,000 new housing units in the next decade or so to keep up with population growth, say city officials.

But for now, they’ll settle for 50,000 units.

That’s the goal announced by Mayor Kate Gallego, who is urging the city to develop “innovative, solution-oriented policies to create a better Phoenix for all.”

In announcing what is called the Housing Phoenix Plan, the Mayor is also asking members of the city council to update cumbersome zoning ordinances that often hamper affordable housing projects.

Other facets of the plan include the promotion of public-private home building partnerships, and redeveloping city-owned land for home construction.

The Housing Phoenix Plan specifically challenges the city to build the 50,000 new homes by the year 2030.

Always fast-growing, Phoenix in the last two decades has seen its population increase from 1.3 million in the year 2000, to just under 1.7 million today.

Last year Phoenix, for the fourth year in a row, saw more in-migration than any other city in the country.
​
At the same time, new home construction has consistently lagged, with only 220,000 new housing units built since the 1990s.

By Garry Boulard

---