Editorial peak: A proposal to jolt Portland’s housing market

Editorial peak: A proposal to jolt Portland’s housing market

The Portland City Council should embrace a proposal presented by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek to temporarily waive development fees for housing construction in the city, the editorial board writes.

How Portland, OR made housing more affordable

In a word: density. New zoning rules in Portland, OR led to an increase in duplexes, tri-plexes, and quad-plexes on lots previously designated for single family homes. The new units typically sell for $300,000 less than traditional houses and that’s helped more people become homeowners. The change has been so effective, Oregon’s governor wants to bring the housing model to the rest of the state. NBC News’ Steve Patterson reports.

Henderson launches program to waive fees for residential projects

The program will run through the month of May in observance of Building Safety Month, and is designed to encourage homeowners to comply with local building codes.

'Beginning of our renaissance': Mayor Wilson, Gov. Kotek propose waiving fees to grow Portland housing

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek brought a proposal forward to waive fees to build in hopes of spurring new housing in the city. Developers pay one-time fees, system development charges or SDCs, when building, that go toward water, sewer, parks, and roads. If this proposal is passed, they would be waived in the city until 5,000 new units are built, or three years have passed. ‘Usually somebo…

Portland mayor, Oregon governor propose suspending development fees to boost housing construction

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson speak at a press conference on housing construction in Portland City Hall, March 6, 2025. The proposal to waive system development charges is their first policy plan to emerge from the task force. (Photo by Alex Zielinski / OPB)Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek announced a plan Thursday to incentivize developers to build more new housing in Portland. Their pitch, announced at a…

Kotek, Wilson want to pause development fees to spur housing production

The move is meant to spur Portland housing production by eliminating up to $50,000 in costs on certain projects.