The Northampton Youth Commission is concerned that local youth are growing up in a city that will be unrealistic to stay in or return to. Young people are facing a mounting inability to afford the stable living conditions that are crucial for education and employment when making the first steps of their independent lives. Addressing Northampton’s housing crisis is becoming increasingly urgent.
Living costs in Northampton are much higher than those of other communities in western Massachusetts. Middle-income families face slim home options, renters struggle to balance living costs, and the demand for affordable and market-rate offerings outpaces availability. As costs rise, half of renters in the region are spending over 30% of their income on housing, and a quarter are spending over 50%. High construction costs incentivize developers to build higher income residences, or to look towards grants to subsidize affordable housing. As a result, Northampton is seeing a reversal of the “downward filtering process” of housing units over time, with many who can afford higher-income options resorting to affordable housing as a first purchase, rather than buying real estate that will lose value as that price category becomes oversaturated.
Old and outdated zoning laws complicate the construction of affordable and market-rate housing, quietly limiting who can live in Northampton. Parking minimums cause less space to be available for development, laws known as “setbacks” disincentivize the sale of inexpensive smaller lots, and historical restrictions on accessory structures limit the kinds of residential alternatives able to be utilized. “Northampton already has space for more housing, so we should maximize what we have,” was the simple premise of two ordinances reforming zoning regulations passed by the City Council last year. The ordinances addressed minimum parking requirements and historical accessory structures, and were both endorsed by the Housing & Sustainability Subcommittee of the Youth Commission.
While increasing development of affordable apartments and single-family homes is beneficial, thinking outside the box with other kinds of accommodations can widen the range of options and create feasible alternatives for those who might not qualify for affordable housing. Continuing to allow accessory dwelling units that turn backyards, garages, and carriage houses into homes use the space of existing lots and can positively change the scale of our neighborhoods. Mobile and tiny homes are another classic example, but they are currently prohibited in Northampton.
Additionally, Community Land Trusts are a legal structure where the land is owned by a non-profit, and the building is owned by the residents. The non-profit can provide subsidies that allow for both affordable and middle-income housing. There are thriving Community Land Trusts in communities such as Amherst and across Franklin County.
Decades-old legislation currently shapes what the housing in our city looks like. The changing economy and evolving needs of Northampton families mean that zoning laws must also adapt. As young people, we are proud to be growing up in a community that deeply values inclusivity and that has provided us with so many reasons to want to stay. However, the current zoning laws and regulations are leaving behind a growing generation.
Ursa Rossman, Helen Tejirian, Amelia Durbin and Milan Ponsa are members of the Housing & Development Subcommittee of the Northampton Youth Commission.