The Washington Post published an August series on how local government preferences for jobs over housing are driving transportation, sprawl and other problems. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47930-2004Aug7.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50565-2004Aug8.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52900-2004Aug9.html “The largest single housing-jobs gap in the region exists in Fairfax County, which spends $7 million a year to bring in jobs. It's part of the county's objective of drawing 25 percent of its real estate taxes from commercial properties instead of homes. During the '90s, the number of jobs in Fairfax County rose from 404,000 to 533,000, according to county figures, for a rise of 129,000, while the home supply rose by 51,000. Assuming the county average of 1.5 workers per home, this leaves a housing shortfall of 35,000 homes.” The Washington Post The Post also editorialized about the need for high density, transit oriented redevelopment on August 12, 2004. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61475-2004Aug12.html “By favoring jobs over houses … the large, close-in suburban counties do not slow population growth; they simply create a housing deficit, inflate housing prices and deflect growth farther out into neighboring (read: poorer) counties – even into West Virginia.” “For in providing new jobs but insufficient housing for new workers, the inner counties not only shunt the financial burden of new residents onto their neighbors, they also promote longer commutes, higher gasoline consumption and more pollution.” “But there are good reasons for dense development in near-in neighborhoods and around Metro stations. It gets people out of their cars and onto trains, cutting pollution and gasoline consumption.” August 12, 2004 Editorial, The Washington Post |
