Paul Conte suggests in his Viewpoint column “Housing the Rich” (EW 8/12) that proposed residential zone changes “would quadruple or more the allowable density and dwellings per lot throughout Eugene’s neighborhoods.”
As Conte correctly observes, such a radical upzoning is “a boon” to predatory investors who will demolish the most affordable rentals to redevelop properties as high-rent apartments.
Many areas of Eugene would then be subject to gentrification, and rentals taken out of Eugene’s affordable housing inventory due to demolition and rising rents. The staff’s strategy of laissez-faire “free market” based upzoning would provide benefit only to developers rather than producing housing that’s affordable to lower income households. We can see the proof in the explosive development and displacement in Portland and Seattle over the last several years.
Conte’s analysis reflects the obvious — that economic disparities, not current zoning regulations, exclude people from housing choices in many neighborhoods. Perhaps Eugene planners should reconsider that a “one plan for all neighborhoods” is not the way to go.
I fully support establishing equitable housing with inclusionary zoning measures and by incorporating, as Conte suggests, “expert recommendations to develop multiple, context-based plans for smaller sub areas” that would protect lower income households. Let’s base city zoning on evidence, not zealous and misguided attacks on single-family neighborhoods.
Deborah Noble
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
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Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
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Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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