3.4 Anti-Gentrification Housing Ordinance

The city will adopt a Housing Preservation Ordinance that will empower tenants with rights of first refusal and tenant opportunity to purchase assistance in multifamily buildings and mobile home parks to prevent the displacement of primarily lowincome residents by entering an agreement with a not-for-profit affordable housing developer to maintain dwelling affordability by purchasing the building or site from the owner.

In the event a multi-family building or mobile home park is sold, the city will adopt an Inclusionary Zoning policy that will require developers to offer a percentage of units at below market rates to lower-income households or pay a high in-lieu fee. With new energy efficient developments that can affect adjacent housing affordability, the city will require the developer enter a Community Benefit Agreement that will require developers to financially support the BIGH Project’s weatherization efforts for eligible homes; in return, the residents will agree to support the development.

The city will adopt a Demolition Surcharge Ordinance that will fine developers $7,500 for each demolished single-family home, including mobile/modular home sites, and $2,500 for every demolished unit of multi-family housing. The financial resources generated by these fees will supplement the municipal losses from an adjoining Tax Abatement Policy that eligible residents can apply for.