Largo's Housing Crisis
and Matt's Plan to Fix it!
An in-depth look at the housing crisis in our community and a data-driven plan for a more affordable future.
Data analysis based on the Nov. 2023 Housing Report, the Largo Comprehensive Development Code, and dynamic scoring models.
The Affordability Squeeze is Real
For a growing number of Largo residents, the cost of housing is outpacing what they can afford. This isn't just about numbers; it impacts quality of life, commute times, and the ability for families and essential workers to live in the community they serve.
Cost-Burdened means a household spends more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs, including utilities. Those spending over 50% are considered severely cost-burdened.
A Plan for Abundance: 10,000 New Homes
To truly address the housing deficit, we need an ambitious goal. A plan to build 10,000 new homes by 2036 would align with the estimated need and create a more balanced housing market for all residents.
The Numbers Behind the Need
The City's own data reveals that just keeping up isn't enough. We must build to erase the existing affordability gap.
Annual Baseline Need
The number of units needed just to accommodate population growth and replace demolished homes. This pace would worsen affordability.
Annual Severe Need Addition
An additional number of housing solutions needed each year to help the thousands of existing households paying over 50% of their income for housing.
Combined Estimated Annual Need
Adding the baseline to the severe need gives a truer picture of the construction pace required to start making a difference.
Projected Housing Growth: Need vs. Goal
Matt's Plan: A Deep Dive into the Reforms
Achieving the 10,000-home goal requires a bold, comprehensive approach to zoning reform. This plan is based on proven policies that remove regulatory barriers, reduce costs, and empower the community to build the housing we need.
1. Eliminate Single-Family Zoning
This foundational reform allows for a greater variety of housing types, like duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings, to be built in any residential neighborhood. It doesn't ban single-family homes; it simply legalizes more options, creating a more diverse and affordable housing stock.
Before:
Only one home per lot, limiting supply and driving up prices.
After:
Multiple homes on the same lot, creating more housing at a lower cost.
2. Remove Parking Minimums
Mandatory parking requirements add significant costs to housing construction and waste valuable land. By removing these requirements, we can lower the cost of housing and free up space for more homes, parks, and businesses.
Before:
Valuable land is dedicated to parking, even if it's not needed.
After:
More land is available for housing, green space, and other amenities.
3. Adopt a Form-Based Code
A form-based code focuses on the physical form of buildings and their relationship to the street, rather than on separating uses. This creates more predictable and attractive development, encourages mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods, and streamlines the approvals process.
Before:
Rigid, use-based zoning creates separated, car-dependent communities.
After:
Flexible, form-based code allows for vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods.
4. Eliminate Minimum Lot Sizes
Minimum lot size requirements artificially inflate the cost of land and prevent the creation of smaller, more affordable housing options. By eliminating these requirements, we can allow for a greater variety of housing types, including "cottage courts" and other innovative solutions.
Before:
Large, expensive lots are the only option, even for small homes.
After:
Smaller, more affordable lots allow for a greater variety of housing.
The Economic and Fiscal Impact of the Plan
A dynamic scoring of this plan reveals a powerful positive feedback loop: by removing regulatory barriers, we can attract new residents, stimulate economic growth, and generate the revenue needed to fund public services and infrastructure improvements, all while keeping taxes and utility rates stable.