To accelerate affordable housing development in Philadelphia, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, recently introduced a new legislative package. Aimed at cutting red tape, these efforts are part of Gauthier's ambitious Defying Displacement campaign's second phase, striving to combat the pressing issue of gentrification through preservation and the creation of affordable homes.
According to the Philadelphia City Council, Gauthier's legislation promises an expedited approval process for zoning and building permit applications. Specifically, it requires the Department of Licenses and Inspection to review zoning permit applications for affordable housing in just five business days and building permit applications within ten business days. Projects requiring Zoning Board of Adjustment approval may receive an accelerated hearing date without additional fees, ensuring affordable housing developers can move forward without undue delays and extra costs.
Meanwhile, the new bills also support homeowners looking to build generational wealth by converting additional space within their homes into bonus units, or what some call "accessory dwelling units." In selected Council Districts, these bonus units would be allowed "by right" in existing single-family homes. This means homeowners could bypass ZBA review if their constructed bonus units do not materially impact the original property's footprint.
An alarming number of Philadelphians faced a 50% or more increase in property values during the 2022 assessment, which escalated tax bills and pushed working-class homeowners to the brink of displacement; this councilmember sees accessory dwelling units as a viable solution.
