Sustainable Saratoga applauds our City government for supporting new workforce rental housing developments in Saratoga Springs. However, we encourage the City Council to go farther to foster a more economically resilient, stable, and sustainable Saratoga by working to create a more diverse portfolio of housing opportunities.
The new generation of Saratogians can’t afford to live in the city where they were born. Saratoga Springs needs a comprehensive strategy to provide housing across a range of income categories, without depending on government funding.
Most of the new affordable housing units target low-income households. Middle-income households also need housing opportunities. Diversity of household incomes within individual housing development projects would make them more inclusive, avoiding the problem of segregating housing by income.
Current projects are all rental units. Saratoga needs more home ownership opportunities, so that low- and middle-income households can build equity.
Almost all current workforce-housing projects depend on state and federal low-income tax credits. We caution the City against relying solely on unpredictable tax credits for its affordable housing strategy.
We urge the City Council to formally adopt inclusionary zoning to address the inadequacies mentioned above. Inclusionary zoning, with creative local public-private financing efforts, would guarantee the development of new mixed-income rental and owner-occupied housing units.
The Council has been studying the proposed Spa Housing Ordinance for several years. It is time to stand up for the community and make a long-term commitment to sustainable affordable housing.
- Art Holmberg | Chair, Sustainable Saratoga
