The Evidence Pack: How Upzoning and 'Missing Middle' Reforms Are Stabilizing Rents
Real-world data from Austin, Minneapolis, and Auckland proves that eliminating restrictive zoning laws and building more housing successfully lowers rent costs.
By Factlen Editorial Team
Urban Economists 45%Housing Policy Advocates 40%Factlen Editorial Board 15%
- Urban Economists
- Focus on empirical data to measure the exact causal mechanisms of upzoning, noting nuances like redevelopment premiums and demand shifts.
- Housing Policy Advocates
- Argue that restrictive zoning is the primary driver of the housing shortage and that unleashing private development lowers costs for everyone.
- Factlen Editorial Board
- Evaluates the aggregate evidence to determine the real-world efficacy of housing policy reforms.
What's not represented
- · Existing homeowners in upzoned neighborhoods
- · Local infrastructure planners
Why this matters
For a decade, the housing affordability crisis has felt unsolvable, draining household wealth and driving inflation. The hard data from cities that have reformed their zoning proves that local governments have the power to reverse skyrocketing rents simply by legalizing the construction of more homes.
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