Assembly and mayor outline housing strategy: incentives, zoning changes and RFPs to speed multifamily and rehab projects
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Summary
City policy staff and Assembly members described efforts to increase housing production through tax incentives, code changes to cut red tape, and funding rounds using CDBG and HOME‑ARP funds; officials urged developers and nonprofits to apply for current RFPs.
Municipal policy staff and assembly members used the summit to explain the components of Anchorage’s 10,000‑homes‑in‑10‑years initiative and to urge developers and community organizations to pursue available funding and RFP opportunities.
Policy director Nolan Clowda outlined three “legs” of the strategy: expand incentives to make projects more financially feasible, reduce regulatory red tape to speed approvals and lower developer costs, and streamline internal municipal permitting and approval processes so projects reach construction quicker.
Assembly member Anna Brawley described the Assembly’s Housing Action Plan as complementary to the mayor’s strategy and emphasized actions already taken: zoning and building‑code changes for smaller units and accessory dwelling units, and recent ordinances to encourage multifamily development. Brawley said the assembly will continue to use its budget authority and regulatory levers to support affordability and production.
Funding and current opportunities
Thea Agnew Bemben, special assistant to the mayor, said roughly $5.5 million will be distributed quickly to community grantees (combining emergency rental assistance and HOME‑ARP resources) and that the municipal CDBG application round is open (closing dates were listed on the purchasing website). Thea urged potential applicants — nonprofit and private developers — to apply and to work with municipal purchasing staff for technical assistance.
Why it matters
Municipal leaders said Anchorage must scale annual housing production from the current hundreds of units to roughly 1,000 units a year to meet the ten‑year target and to relieve pressure on the shelter and rental systems. They stressed that both new construction and rehabilitation of aging units are required.
Next steps
Staff asked the community to look at municipal incentive proposals (including a proposed multifamily property tax abatement) and RFPs posted on muni.org. Officials committed to more outreach to potential applicants, technical support for grant applications, and faster permitting for projects that meet affordability goals.
