Alan Nochumson.

Philadelphia city council is currently reviewing a bill (#170678), introduced by Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, to amend the Philadelphia Housing Code, to implement an inclusionary zoning (IZ) program called the “mixed income housing program.”

If this change in the Philadelphia Housing Code goes into effect on July 1, 2018, (per the date listed on the current version of the bill), new multi-unit developments with 10 or more units will be required to reserve one out of every 10 units for occupants who qualify as “moderate income” or “low income,” or pay a fee into the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) (referred to in the bill as “in lieu of payments”). The HTF rehabs currently existing properties in need of repair, or provides financing for new construction affordable housing.

If the bill is passed with its current language, the Philadelphia mixed housing program will apply to all new development projects with 10 or more units, whether they are rentals or owner-occupied, in the following zones: RM-4, RMX-3, CMX-3, CMX-4 or CMX-5. These units must remain open for occupancy by moderate/low Income residents for 50 years. Projects with permit applications within the above zoning classifications filed prior to July 1, 2018, would not fall under the new IZ program.