Incremental Housing - Overview

For too long, housing policy has put investor returns and macroeconomic goals over the universal human need for shelter. Restrictive housing policies have also prevented people from collectively building the prospering cities they desire.

There should be no substantial barrier that prevents a neighborhood from evolving over time in response to local needs. That’s why Strong Towns has been advocating for a better approach to housing for over a decade—one that allows for the next increment of development on every property by right. It’s not a miracle cure, but it creates positive feedback loops so that success can emerge over time.

Dynamic & Responsive

Your city’s housing market should be free to respond your city’s evolving needs and capacity.

One Simple Rule

No neighborhood should experience radical change, but no neighborhood can be exempt from change.

Strong Local Leaders

A bottom-up orientation to housing requires strong local leadership.

Together, we can unlock your community’s housing market, ensuring that there is an adequate amount of housing at prices people can actually afford.

Learn more about the Incremental Housing Campaign

Essential reading: Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Response to the Housing Crisis, by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges

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Understanding This Rule About The Next Increment of Development

The phrase "allowing the next increment of development by right" is a key part of the Strong Towns approach to building resilient communities. 

Incremental development is the process of gradually improving and evolving a property or neighborhood over time in response to local needs and market conditions. This could involve converting a single-family home into a duplex, adding an accessory dwelling unit to a property, or redeveloping a vacant lot into a small apartment building.

The phrase "by right" refers to the idea that these types of incremental changes should be allowed as a matter of course, without the need for special permissions or variances. In other words, the zoning code and other local regulations should be structured in such a way that these types of changes are permitted by default.

This approach stands in contrast to the way many cities currently regulate development. In many places, zoning codes and other regulations make it difficult or impossible to make these types of incremental changes. This can lead to a variety of problems, including a lack of affordable housing, stagnant neighborhoods, and financial instability for cities.

By allowing the next increment of development by right, we can create a more flexible and resilient urban fabric. This approach allows neighborhoods to evolve and adapt over time in response to changing needs and conditions. It also encourages a more diverse and affordable housing stock, as smaller and more varied types of housing are often more affordable than large, single-family homes.

Moreover, this approach creates positive feedback loops. As neighborhoods evolve and improve, property values increase, which in turn generates more tax revenue for the city. This additional revenue can then be reinvested in the community, leading to further improvements and growth.

However, it's important to note that this approach is not a quick fix. It's not about making dramatic changes overnight, but rather about allowing gradual, organic growth over time. It's about creating the conditions for success to emerge naturally, rather than trying to engineer it from the top down.

In conclusion, allowing the next increment of development by right is about creating a more flexible, adaptable, and resilient approach to urban development. It's about recognizing that our cities and neighborhoods are complex, dynamic systems that need the freedom to evolve and adapt over time. And it's about putting the power to shape our communities back in the hands of the people who live in them.