Statement from District 4 Council Member Sandesh Sadalge on Home in Tacoma Year One

~ Tacoma, Washington has been facing a pervasive lack of housing, making it difficult to address other challenges within the community. As the city reflects on the first year of implementing the Home in Tacoma program, it is important to consider the broader efforts of the City of Tacoma to promote affordable housing.

The City of Tacoma has taken a leading role in modernizing zoning regulations, starting with updates to its Comprehensive Plan in December 2021 and culminating in unanimous adoption of comprehensive residential zoning changes in November 2024. This historic process has been supported by both the Planning Commission and City Council. These changes officially went into effect in February 2025 and aim to address the pressing need for "missing middle" housing while also being responsible to communities and the environment. The goal is to increase housing options for all residents, and early data shows promising results.

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In just one year, the zoning reform has already had a significant impact on residential development activity throughout Tacoma. Compared to the previous five-year average, there has been a 39% increase in permit applications and a 62% increase in proposed housing units in these areas. This is particularly impressive considering an overall slowdown in permitting activity across the Puget Sound region.

The data also reveals that this development is not concentrated in one specific area of the city. The Eastside, West End, and South End have seen the highest density of new housing units at 25%, 21%, and 18%, respectively. This equitable distribution of growth is especially important for historically under-resourced areas like the Eastside and South End.

The increase in housing options through Home in Tacoma is just one part of a larger strategy by the city to encourage affordable housing development. This includes past actions such as adopting a Housing sales tax to create an Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). Since 2020, over $20 million has been invested through federal funds and AHF to support the development of 608 affordable housing units, with an additional $38 million supporting another 630 units in the pipeline.

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While celebrating these early successes, city officials remain focused on further driving development to meet the needs of the community. This includes monitoring the effectiveness of affordable housing development incentives and homeownership development incentives sponsored by city leaders. Homeownership is crucial for providing stability and building generational wealth, yet Tacoma's current homeownership rate of 55% is well below regional, state, and national averages. This rate is even lower among historically marginalized populations. To improve these numbers, policy updates that encourage the development of new homes within reach for working families will continue to be pursued.

It is clear that Tacoma needs more housing at all levels and should have addressed this issue long ago. However, city officials are honored to be part of this momentous step forward for the city and remain committed to finding solutions to meet the housing needs of its residents.

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