Penfield Tate is running for Denver City Council At-Large and believes that the lack of affordable housing in the city is a significant issue that must be addressed. Tate has decades of experience holding developers accountable to affordability requirements as a public finance attorney. He believes innovative solutions and incentives can help resolve this crisis and has proposed a suite of affordable housing strategies for the City Council to consider.
Purposeful Development
Tate believes that purposeful development involves two major components: affordability and location. Inclusionary housing has played a critical role in keeping new units affordable, and as a councilman, he will hold developers accountable for these requirements. Tate has also proposed to make the city a direct financial investor in the housing types it wants to promote. Sales and use tax exemptions can be helpful tools in incentivizing the classes, and the permitting process needs to be revamped to reduce wait times on applications.
Rent Control
Tate firmly believes that Denver needs rent control and has led the effort in the past to bring it to the city. While it is not the sole solution for the affordable housing crisis, Tate believes it is necessary to stabilize the rental market and give much-needed relief and security to the over 140,000 renters in Denver.
Public Housing
Tate proposes using public housing initiatives to increase the supply of permanently affordable units. Community land trusts are an excellent tool for increasing access to homeownership while lessening the impact of market demands. Tate also supports the policy that gives the City and County of Denver the right of first refusal for sold multifamily properties.
Tate believes we must implement policies requiring developers to incorporate affordability in their projects while exploring alternative housing solutions and incentives. He is committed to finding practical solutions to this critical issue facing our city while preserving our historic neighborhoods. By taking a proactive approach and implementing innovative solutions, we can ensure that all residents, regardless of their income level, have access to safe, affordable housing in Denver.
Zoning Reform
Penfield Tate is a strong advocate for zoning reform. He believes we can improve our development projects by eliminating unnecessary regulations that have slowed essential endeavors. Tate supports reforming our zoning codes to be more creative in making housing available. He suggests transitioning commercial properties into residential areas, increasing mixed-use zoning, offering incentives for ADUs, and expediting the approval process for local developers. Tate believes implementing these ideas can boost our community and create a diverse and prosperous environment.
