Vancouver City Council Ponders Affordable Housing Tax; Seattle Considers Forcing Developers to Build Affordable or Pay

Tonight the Vancouver City Council will vote on whether to place an affordable housing property-tax levy on the ballot to raise $42 million over the next seven years. The money would be used to purchase, construct and preserve low-income housing in addition to supporting renter-assistance programs.

The City of Seattle will hold a hearing tomorrow morning to consider forcing developers to build affordable units, or pay a fee to avoid it.  Seattle recently passed an ordinance prohibiting rent increases on units with health or safety violations.