Podcast appearances and mentions of christian dorsey

Message from Christian Dorsey on October 20, 2024

Demand for badly needed housing has triggered another ban on single-family zoning. Lawmakers in Arlington County, Virginia, approved a controversial plan to eliminate single-family exclusivity, and allow as many as six homes on one property. The decision came after a contentious three-year debate, and is part of a growing trend to dismantle the long-standing concept for single-family communities.    Hi, I'm Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. Please remember to subscribe to this podcast and leave us a review.   The policy was unanimously approved by a five-member county board after a battle that included a so-called “Missing Middle Housing Study.” The missing middle is a phrase that refers to housing that falls between apartments and single-family homes. It covers several kinds of housing including townhomes, duplexes, and triplexes with more space than apartments. It could also include backyard cottages or in-law units which are more officially known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs.   Divisive Debate Over Single-Family Zoning Ban   As reported by the Washington Post, some Arlington County residents supported the idea, saying a ban on exclusive single-family neighborhoods would increase affordable housing options and diversify their communities. Other residents argued that it would lead to overcrowding, lower property values, and the destruction of their lifestyle and neighborhoods. (1)   Arlington County is a desirable part of the greater Washington, D.C. metro with a growing population and a growing demand for more housing. The county's board chair, Christian Dorsey, said the ban will help the county address population growth, and move past the “discriminatory noise” within zoning rules.   He says: “Growth and change are not good or bad, they just are.” And, he says: “It's our responsibility to make sure we accommodate that – to make sure that it works well for as many people as it possibly can.”   New Rules Among the Most Permissive in the Country   The new rules are some of the most permissive in the country. Contractors will be allowed to put up to five or six homes on lots that range in size from 6 to 7,000 square feet. Smaller lots will have a limit of 4 units. Height, lot coverage, floor area, and setbacks will remain the same.    According to Wikipedia, single-family zoning has been around since 1916, and began in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley, California. The story goes that a real estate developer in the Elmwood district pushed for single-family zoning rules to prevent a dance company owned by a Black resident from moving into homes that he was trying to sell. He apparently pushed for single-family zoning with the help of other developers who were also trying to keep certain groups of people out of the neighborhood.   Growing Opposition to Single-Family Zoning   More than one hundred years later, the concept is now wavering under the weight of the housing crisis, and the idea of banning this kind of exclusive zoning is gaining momentum across the country. According to BisNow, at least three states and eight municipalities have passed bans on single-family-only zoning.   The city of Minneapolis was the first to implement a ban in 2018. The state of Oregon followed in 2019. Several cities in California banned that kind of zoning, but state lawmakers approved a bill in 2019 called Senate Bill 9. That legislation makes it legal to have two units on a single-family property, and in some cases, four units.   The state of Maine adopted a ban last year. The Washington State House of Representatives just recently passed a bill that would ban single-family zoning statewide, but it still needs approval from the state senate and the governor. (2)   The policy in Arlington, Virginia, goes into effect on July 1st and will be phased in over five years. During those first five years, only 58 permits a year will be approved. The cap will be lifted in 2028.   This kind of ban opens up opportunities for homeowners to be coincidental landlords if they build additional housing on their properties, and rent them out. You'll find links to the Washington Post story in the show notes at newsforinvestors.com.   Please remember to join RealWealth by clicking on the “join for free” button. As a member, you'll have greater access to investing opportunities in desirable rental markets across the country. That includes our investor portal, our market data, and our experienced investment counselors. You can also find out more about our spring real estate tours in metros that are popular among single-family rental investors, and our mastermind events to help get you on the path to long-term wealth.   If you haven't subscribed to the podcast, please do so! And leave us a review!   Thank you! And thanks for listening, Kathy Show Notes link:  https://www.newsforinvestors.com   Join link: https://join.realwealth.com/?utm_content=Real%20Estate%20News%20Podcast&utm_campaign=Join%20for%20Free&utm_term=Description%20Text%20Link   Subscribe link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-news-real-estate-investing-podcast/id1079952715   Links:   1 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/22/arlington-missing-middle-vote-zoning/   2 -  https://www.housingwire.com/articles/wa-house-passes-bill-that-would-ban-single-family-zoning/  

Newly-elected Arlington County Board Chairman Christian Dorsey has called for a focus on equity in County policies. We explore what role curiosity might play in understanding past damage and ensuring a more just future. Theme and other music by Sean Balick. Join us again next time when Columbia University professor and neuroscientist Jacqueline Gottlieb eyes curiosity.

Wilma Jones traced her family and community history in one of Arlington's historically Black neighborhoods and published those stories in "My Halls Hill Family." She makes a case for choosing to be curious about our own stories and their social context. Join us next time when newly-elected Arlington County Board chair Christian Dorsey joins us to talk about how curiosity supports his focus on equity in the community -- a perfect pairing with what Wilma has captured in the stories of Halls Hill. Theme music by Sean Balick. Thanks to Blue Dot Sessions and Cloud Harbor for "Discovery Harbor."

Christian Dorsey joined the County Board in 2016 and now also represents Arlington on the WMATA Board. We talked to Dorsey about whether SafeTrack and new train cars are improving Metro. We also talked about schools, parks, land use, issues with the Arlington Way, development, the Shirlington Dog park controversy, gentrification, affordable housing, and a proposed pedestrian walk from Crystal City to Reagan Nat'l Airport.

We keep it local again today with Arlington County, Virginia's newest County Board Member, Christian Dorsey, who started his term on January 1. Arlington is just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC and at 26 square miles is the smallest county in the nation in size but one of the most dense and diverse and home to the world's largest office building, the Pentagon, and National Airport. As a lifelong activist, Mr. Dorsey explains that running for County office was the next step for him in becoming more deeply involved in the community where he's lived since 1993, although he jokes that you "must disassociate yourself from rational thought in order to run." While working to set an example for his kids on how to be involved and active in their community, he is working for all residents, with a special focus on affordable housing -- which is increasingly becoming more rare around the country, but especially in the Washington, DC area. To learn more about this fascinating place and hear more about Mr. Dorsey's strong background in public service, don't miss this episode. Christian Dorsey has dedicated his efforts to improving our community, most recently as a new member of the Arlington County Board beginning in November 2015. Mr. Dorsey has a focus on continuing to enhance the quality of life for all Arlingtonians by charting a course toward sustainable growth, to figure out how we meet our present needs and overcome current challenges without compromising the ability of current and future residents to enjoy our great community. The Arlington County Board is composed of five at-large members that establish policies, and oversee governance, growth and development.

Christian Dorsey of the Economic Policy Institute has answers.