Yesterday, a line in a story at Around Dublin and an anonymous comment there, caught my eye. The story covered an upcoming development in my neighborhood, and mentioned that the number of below-market-rate units in this new apartment building had been reduced by the City. The first comment blasted BMR in the rental context. And while I understand some of the sentiment in that comment, I felt compelled to respond. I am strong supporter of inclusionary mixed-use zoning, which means requiring developers to include a percentage of units in each building with a cost cap based on income criteria determined by the City.
I agree with the commenter that BMR units are best in the for-sale context. However, I think that impugning BMR residents wholesale is poor form indeed. I own a BRM unit. It’s what brought me to Dublin from the home I rented in Walnut Creek. It was a way to gain stability at a reasonable price, and the City sharply limits any prospect of me making a significant return on a sale within 55 years.
In the rental context, BMR apartments are often built all together in a single building. But in the inclusionary model, like at Avalon II, the affordable units are in the same building as much more expensive units. I believe that our community benefits much more from mixed-income developments than from setting aside those units in all-affordable apartments. I also strongly favor these programs as a way for cities to provide opportunity and stability in housing, which is not a simple trade commodity.
It is simply too easy to accuse BMR residents for problems in dense developments. And yet, when the rental markets dip, we see owners of market rate condos renting to anyone they can get. Each of us is responsible for creating the community we want to see. If I ignore drunks in my public park, I can expect more drunks in my public park. If I push those poorer than me way from me, I can never expect them to learn from me.
Obviously, this is about more than BMR alone. And now that that is off my chest, let’s build Dublin together.
