Date of Award

5-2013

Document Type

Terminal Project

Degree Name

Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)

Department

Planning, Development and Preservation

Advisor

Dr. Grant Cunningham

Committee Member

Dr. Barry Nocks

Abstract

This document examines the issue affordable housing. Though a multitude of affordable housing programs exist across the country, there is still a shortage of affordable housing (HUD, 2013). This is an attempt to examine the process to develop the effective implementation of an inclusionary zoning ordinance in a particular locale, such as the Columbia, South Carolina. The City of Columbia is located in the midlands region of South Carolina. Currently, South Carolina has no statue to address inclusionary zoning. South Carolina has traditionally been a strong Home Rule state. All municipalities within South Carolina have full structural, functional, and fiscal powers that must be “liberally construed” in favor of the municipality (Hollister, McKeen , and Mcgrath, 2007). The City of Columbia is currently experiencing neighborhood gentrifications which could lead to more of the city’s housing stock becoming less affordable. Columbia has many different programs to help individuals on the lower end on the socioeconomic spectrum, inclusionary zoning is a means to help the working citizen, such as a fireman, policeman or other public or private sector workers, find affordable housing. Applying inclusionary zoning in a local jurisdiction can help to create moderately priced homes at little or no cost through the use of cost offsets (Hollister, McKeen , and Mcgrath, 2007). Cost offsets are used in an attempt to prevent possible illegal takings from the developer. The cost offsets are a method to make up for the loss of revenue in the production of affordable housing.

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