Barriers to affordable housing found—research recommends establishing regional authority

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Planning Association has found significant challenges to including affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) in Southern California, despite state policies encouraging such integration.

"Including affordable housing in TODs is critical for addressing mobility and shelter needs of transit-dependent and low-income populations," says Ajay Garde, associate professor of urban planning and public policy and lead author of the study. "Our findings highlight the need for targeted incentives and a stronger institutional framework to achieve this goal."

Garde and fellow researchers—Huê-Tâm Jamme of Arizona State University and Benjamin Toney, Deepak Bahl and Tridib Banerjee of USC—examined 10 TOD areas near transit stations in Los Angeles and Orange counties that included disadvantaged communities. They analyzed specific plans, housing elements, land use data, and conducted interviews with planners, policymakers, and developers.

Their key findings include:

• TOD specific plans permitted higher-density development but did not prioritize affordable housing or present a coherent vision for inclusive transit communities.
• Housing elements did not prioritize affordable housing in TOD areas over other locations.
• Major barriers included uncertainties in the approval process, difficulties securing financing from multiple sources, and community opposition.
• Developers faced challenges with mixed-use requirements and design expectations incompatible with affordable housing financing.

Recent state laws offer new opportunities for by-right affordable housing development in commercial areas near transit.

The study's authors recommend that local governments update plans to require affordable housing in TODs and that a regional authority be established to strengthen the housing-transportation connection.

The researchers also note that while focused on California, their study—"Can TODs Include Affordable Housing?"—has broader implications for affordable housing in TODs nationwide.

"The development of TODs in a politically fragmented region like Southern California necessitates a lead organization to procure affordable housing investments and strengthen the housing-transportation nexus," Garde says.