Beyond Incremental Upzoning: Advocates Push for Fundamental Deregulation to Address Housing Shortages

Urban planning advocate Matt Popovich has called for a significant paradigm shift in how cities are developed, arguing that "mild upzonings of broad regions are cool, but the real punch will come from Just Letting Cities Be Cities." This statement, made on social media, underscores a growing sentiment among pro-housing advocates for more radical deregulation to tackle persistent housing crises and foster urban growth. Popovich, co-founder and chapter lead at Hawaiʻi YIMBY, aligns with the "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) movement, which champions increasing housing supply by reducing restrictive land-use regulations.

Upzoning, the process of changing zoning ordinances to allow for denser or taller development, is often touted as a primary tool to alleviate housing shortages and promote affordability. Proponents argue that it can lower housing costs by increasing supply, reduce urban sprawl, and decrease per capita carbon footprints by encouraging more compact, walkable communities. Cities like Minneapolis and Oregon have implemented upzoning policies, with Minneapolis eliminating single-family zoning in 2019 to allow for duplexes and triplexes city-wide.

However, the YIMBY movement, with figures like Popovich, suggests that such incremental changes may not be sufficient. Their core belief is that housing affordability is fundamentally a supply-and-demand issue, and that current regulations, particularly single-family zoning, artificially constrain supply. "Just Letting Cities Be Cities" implies a comprehensive overhaul of zoning codes, moving beyond minor adjustments to allow for a wider range of housing types and densities without extensive bureaucratic hurdles, fostering a more organic, market-responsive urban development.

This approach aims to unleash significant economic and social benefits, including increased tax revenues for municipalities and improved access to jobs, services, and public transportation. Advocates contend that by removing barriers to construction, cities can become more vibrant, accessible, and inclusive. However, critics caution that radical deregulation, if not carefully managed, could exacerbate gentrification and displacement, potentially altering neighborhood character without guaranteeing equitable outcomes.

The debate highlights a fundamental tension in urban planning: balancing the need for increased housing supply and economic vitality with concerns over community preservation and social equity. As cities continue to grapple with housing affordability, the call for more fundamental shifts in regulatory frameworks, as advocated by Popovich and the broader YIMBY movement, is gaining traction, pushing for a future where urban development is less constrained by traditional zoning.