We asked Tempe City Council candidates where they stood on housing issues.
Our view is that Berdetta Hodge, Brooke St. George, and Bobby Nichols present the best vision on housing for Tempe.
tempeyimby.org/2026/02/27/t...
Happy hour this Wednesday! Swing by Saltfire Brewing Co. starting at 7 PM for drinks and discussion.
A heck of a chart: in every single one of the 10 major US cities that built the most housing between 2017 and 2023, rents for older, existing units fell—often by quite a bit.
Two meetings on this TODAY:
Meeting via Zoom at 12 p.m.
Meeting at the Tempe Public Library, Desert Willow Room, 3500 S. Rural Rd. at 6 p.m.
You can take the survey here: communityfeedback.opengov.com/portals/temp...
There will be additional meetings starting January 6th as well.
Our suggestions for improving the density bonus proposal: Replace the complicated bonus system with a simple 5-to-1 bonus that scales with the affordability level to make sure affordable housing actually gets built. Cap density at 25% above the maximum projected density in the General Plan. A bonus should be an actual bonus. Eliminate parking requirements entirely for projects that use the density bonus program.
With these adjustments, the density bonus could boost affordability by increasing both the overall supply of housing and the stock of designated affordable housing.
There is currently a survey live. We encourage you to take the survey now and ask for these adjustments to be made.
Chart with Tempe's proposed affordable housing requirements to receive the bonus. A developer who sets aside 75% of bonus units would rent them at up to 80% AMI. 50% of bonus units for up to 65% AMI. And 25% of bonus units for up to 50% AMI.
A density bonus has the potential to be good, but the proposal needs tweaks to ensure that it actually incentivizes affordable housing.
Replacing the complicated bonus system with a simple ratio that scales with affordability, removing parking mandates would improve this proposal greatly.
Tempe has proposed an affordable housing density bonus, allowing developers to build denser and taller in exchange for renting a number of units to those making below a certain income.
We dive into the details in our latest article:
tempeyimby.org/2026/01/03/t...
ITE Trip Generation Rate for a Fast-Food Restaurant with Drive-Through Window and No Indoor Seating (Seventh Edition of Trip Generation, 2003)
Chapters 2-4 of the late, great UCLA Professor Donald Shoup’s book The High Cost of Free Parking exposed modern parking planning as pseudoscientific nonsense so thoroughly that many states and major cities have thrown out parking requirements entirely.
Reminder: there was nothing stopping Tempe from doing this.
Three cheers to Flagstaff for––as of a few minutes ago––becoming the first city in Arizona (and maybe the entire southwest?) to legalize fourplexes on every residential lot citywide.
And congrats to Flagstaff for Affordable Housing & @azneighborhood.bsky.social for leading the charge!
Join us Tuesday from 5-6 PM at Cocina Chiwas patio for an informal happy hour to connect with Seattle Area housing leaders and local Arizona housing experts and advocates. Snacks and refreshments provided and drinks will be available for purchase. RSVP link below.
Join us Tuesday from 5-6 PM at Cocina Chiwas patio for an informal happy hour to connect with Seattle Area housing leaders and local Arizona housing experts and advocates.
Snacks and refreshments provided and drinks will be available for purchase. RSVP link below.
Every single report to shareholders from a large REIT includes something about how it's great that market-rate multifamily housing isn't getting built in high-cost coastal cities because the shortage is what allows them to rent gouge.
On that note: Tempe YIMBY happy hour this Wednesday!
“I don’t care how much you love working people. They can’t afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY,” ... “I don’t want to know your ideology, because you can’t build anything. It does not matter.” 🔥👀
Maricopa County is considering some ambitious zoning reforms on county land.
Tell them that you support more housing & flexible zoning laws!
www.maricopa.gov/6159/Zoning-...
“Last year, the Legislature passed a law mandating cities and towns to issue detailed reports on their housing stock…
…But seven months after the deadline, that data still hasn’t materialized.”
open.substack.com/pub/arizonaa...
Second, Tempe should think bigger and expand to overlay to cover the city.
Allowing missing middle is a positive reform but one that needs to go wide to have an impact. Tempe should go beyond what's required by state law and lead on housing affordability.
First, the inclusion of an "Airport Exclusion Area" which is allowed by law but not required.
This serves little purpose other than to artificially limit where Middle Housing can be built. There are already many single family homes and apartments built within this area.
On August 4th, Tempe city staff will take feedback on a proposed "Middle Housing Overlay" which would allow Missing Middle homes on single family lots near downtown.
This is now required by state law, but Tempe's proposed ordinance has two big issues.
tempeyimby.org/2025/07/24/t...
Tempe YIMBY happy hour on June 11th at 7 PM at Saltfire Brewing Co.
We will be at Saltfire Brewing Co. on Wednesday 6/11.
Swing by starting at 7 PM for discussion, drinks, and an all around good time. All are welcome!
Want the latest updates on housing news in Tempe and across AZ?
We have a monthly newsletter with the latest news, events, and action alerts: eepurl.com/gFVf61
Super excited to be moderating this panel discussion!
Not too late to register!
#parkingreform
#urbanista
#reina👑
In a positive step, Tempe is moving forward with pre-approved ADU designs, which the city says should make it cheaper and faster to get ADUs permitted.
ADUs using pre-approved designs will see Plan Review Fees waived and faster permitting.
tempeyimby.org/2025/05/05/s...
Hey housing peeps! 🏘Virtual book 📚 event with author @yappelbaum.bsky.social discussing his enthralling book on housing affordability. The event is free event!
🗓 April 27th 1p-2p Pacific Time
#housingaffordability #zoningreform
#BookSky
www.urbanphoenixproject.org/book-club-wi...
A new poll of 800 AZ voters shows strong support for the AZ Starter Homes Act!
@senanaliseortiz.bsky.social @kiringoff.bsky.social @azsenatedems.bsky.social @azhousedems.bsky.social @annahernandezaz.bsky.social @solorio4housing.bsky.social
NEW: Every Tempe elected official should see this polling.
58% of AZ voters support new apartments near them to bring down housing costs.
NIMBY voices are loudest at city hall, but voters *want* new homes built. It's time for local electeds to take note.
tempeyimby.org/2025/03/13/v...
We're excited to be here on Bluesky. If you live in Phoenix and care about:
- walkability
- safe bike routes
- transit
- great urban spaces
...then we're worth the follow. 😊🌵
In a stunning new poll, 35% of Arizona born residents considered leaving the state due to housing prices
60% would support new housing built near them if it lowered overall prices
Major indictment of the status quo: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...
