Economic Development & Housing Flashcards

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act, newly constructed multifamily housing must include which accessibility feature in ground-floor units?

Answer: Accessible routes, wide doorways, and adaptable bathroom designs

The Fair Housing Act requires that new multifamily buildings with four or more units include accessible entry routes, 32-inch clear doorways, and adaptable bathroom designs to allow for future modification.

A city uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund infrastructure in a redevelopment area. The 'increment' refers to what?

Answer: The growth in property tax revenues above the baseline assessed value when the TIF was established

TIF captures the increase in property tax revenue (the 'increment') above the frozen base value when the district was created and uses it to repay bonds financing redevelopment infrastructure.

What is 'affirmatively furthering fair housing' (AFFH), as required of HUD grantees?

Answer: Taking proactive steps to overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities

AFFH requires HUD grantees to proactively analyze fair housing issues in their communities and take meaningful actions to address segregation, concentrated poverty, and unequal access to opportunity.

Which economic development strategy focuses on growing businesses already located in the community rather than recruiting outside firms?

Answer: Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)

Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) programs focus on supporting existing local businesses through visits, technical assistance, and removing barriers to growth, since existing businesses create the majority of new jobs.

A municipality is analyzing its 'economic base.' What distinguishes 'basic' industries from 'non-basic' industries in this analysis?

Answer: Basic industries export goods and services outside the local economy, bringing in external dollars; non-basic industries serve local demand

Economic base theory distinguishes basic industries (which export and import outside dollars) from non-basic industries (which recirculate local dollars), with basic industries driving overall regional growth.

A city is experiencing rapid gentrification in a historic neighborhood. Which policy tool is specifically designed to help long-term low-income residents remain in the neighborhood as housing costs rise?

Answer: Community Land Trust (CLT) development

Community Land Trusts permanently remove land from the speculative market and provide long-term affordable housing by retaining ownership of the land while selling or renting structures to income-eligible residents.

When evaluating a proposed economic development incentive package, a city manager should require a 'but-for' analysis. What does this determine?

Answer: Whether the project would proceed without the public incentive

A 'but-for' analysis determines whether a project would have occurred without public incentives, ensuring that public subsidies are only provided when truly necessary to make a project feasible.