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Cityscape: Volume 19 Number 2 | Urbanizing for Equity: Harnessing Upzones as a Redistributive Policy Tool

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Habitat III

Volume 19, Number 2

Editors
Mark D. Shroder
Michelle P. Matuga

Urbanizing for Equity: Harnessing Upzones as a Redistributive Policy Tool

Rachel Fyall
University of Washington

Alexander Casey
Zillow


Alternative land use policies are needed to ensure equitable housing. This article explores the often lottery-like characteristics of significant land value increases that certain property owners realize following local zoning changes. Traditionally, property owners enjoy a financial windfall from land use modifications when provided the opportunity to redevelop to a higher density or sell to a developer. We propose an alternative policy that enables cities to capture a portion of this land value increase in order to fund housing equity priorities.


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