Policy is the First Step, Not the Finish Line
When we talk about solving housing affordability, it’s tempting to see a new policy as “mission accomplished.”
But policy is only the first step.
Real change requires every party at the table, developers, city staff, lenders, community members, contractors, to be aligned and committed to the same goal.
Without that, a good policy can stall before it ever makes an impact.
Raleigh’s Parking Reform: A Step Forward
Here in Raleigh, the city made a major move by eliminating minimum parking requirements.
This opens the door to more housing, more flexible site design, and potentially lower costs.
On paper, it’s a win.
But here’s the reality: many lending partners still require a certain parking ratio before they’ll finance a project.
That means even if the city says “you don’t have to build parking,” the bank might still say “yes you do.”
It’s a perfect example of how one piece of the puzzle can move, but the rest still needs to catch up.
The Alignment Problem
To truly move the needle on affordability, we need:
Cities to modernize their codes and processes
Lenders to adapt their underwriting standards to today’s housing realities
Developers to embrace designs that serve both residents and community context
Residents to be part of the conversation from the start
When everyone works from the same playbook, policy changes become real-world projects.
The Call to Action
If you’re in any position of influence…..whether you’re a policymaker, a lender, a builder, or a neighbor………the work doesn’t stop when a vote passes.
That’s when the real work begins.
Policy can open the door, but people have to walk through it together.
Have you seen a policy change in your city that didn’t reach its full potential because the rest of the system didn’t follow?