Pennsylvania faces a housing shortage. Young professionals can’t afford homes near new jobs, families fail to bid for starter homes and seniors looking to downsize lack options in longtime communities.
As the region’s economic center, Pittsburgh attracts workers and investment, but zoning regulations and red tape often make it easier to build housing in surrounding municipalities than within the city itself. As demand grows, residents face displacement as they compete for a nearly static housing supply, driving up prices. Meanwhile, suburbs that allow development absorb growth that could be distributed across the region.
This is why the bipartisan housing reforms introduced by Rep. John Inglis are crucial. While Pittsburgh has been working on zoning changes for years, we can’t solve a statewide crisis alone. State-level reforms ensure suburban and rural areas are also part of the solution.
The proposals address our shortage through proven reforms: legalizing accessory dwelling units, permitting duplexes and triplexes, supporting transit-oriented development, and reforming outdated parking requirements that make building too expensive.
Currently, each municipality sets its own zoning rules, creating fragmented regulations where housing policy varies drastically from one community to the next. Municipalities that would benefit from allowing more housing might never enact reforms independently. A statewide standard ensures communities can grow sustainably and meet residents’ needs.
State-level reforms can prevent displacement and ensure equitable growth. I urge the General Assembly to pass this legislation to allow Pennsylvania to grow again.
David V. Auth
North Oakland
The writer is a member of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee and a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.