Racially Disparate Impacts in Housing
City of Spokane
PlanSpokane 2046
[Page 1]
RACIALLY DISPARATE IMPACTS
IN SPOKANE HOUSING
HB 1220 PL ANNING FOR AND ACCOMMODATING HOUSING NEEDS
PL AN COMMISSION | July 23, 2025
[Page 2]
Workshop:
• HB 1220 Racially Disparate Impacts Over view
• Racially Disparate Impacts Data Analysis
• Displacement Risk Analysis
• Policy Evaluation
• Next Steps
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 2
[Page 3]
In 2021, the Washington Legislature
changed planning for housing under GMA
to “plan for and accommodate” housing
affordable to all income levels.
HB 1220
Planning for sufficient Providing for more Targets for existing Identifying racially
land capacity for moderate density and projected disparate impacts,
housing needs housing options housing needs displacement, and
exclusion
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 3
[Page 4]
HB 1220:
Racially Disparate Impacts (RDI) in Housing
RCW 36.70A.070(2) state that jurisdictions must now adopt a housing
element that:
• (e) Identifies local policies and regulations that result in racially disparate
impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing, including:
• (i) Zoning that may have a discriminatory effect;
• (ii) Disinvestment; and
• (iii) Infrastructure availabilit y;
• (f) Identifies and implement policies and regulations to address and begin
to undo racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in
housing caused by local policies, plans, and actions;
• (g) Identifies areas that may be at higher risk of displacement from market
forces that occur with changes to zoning development regulations and
capital investments; and
• (h) Establishes anti-displacement policies
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 4
[Page 5]
Definitions
Racially disparate Exclusion in housing Displacement &
impacts Displacement Risk
• When policies, • The act or effect of • The process or
practices or other shutting or keeping likelihood that a
systems result in a certain populations household is forced
disproportionate out of housing within to move from its
impact on one or a certain area, community
more racial groups intentionally or
unintentionally, but
which leads to non-
inclusive impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 5
[Page 6]
RDI Process & Methodology
Review previous Analyze data Evaluate policies Revise policies and Review and update
engagement integrate into regulations
Comprehensive Plan
Part of Final
Preferred Alternative
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 6
[Page 7]
R acially Disparate Impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 7
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 8]
There is a persistent gap in homeownership rates for BIPOC households
compared to White households, with a higher disparity among Black or African
American households, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander households,
and American Indian and Alaska Native households.
Exclusionary zoning reinforced the impacts of redlining and racially restrictive
Major covenants, wherein redlined areas historically had a lower percentage of single
unit zoning in residential areas.
Themes
Neighborhood access, income disparities, and housing affordability vary by
ra c e, putting homeownership farther out of reach for BIPOC households, who have
limited access to neighborhoods and higher performing schools in parts of the city.
Environmental health disparities reflect systemic disparities of historic
disinvestment, exasperating disparate outcomes for overburdened communities,
including higher levels of exposure to environmental hazards and lower life
expectancy.
Higher displacement risk exists in central and northeast Spokane in areas that
have higher proportions of BIPOC and lower income households, with higher
eviction and demolition rates and changing market factors for redevelopment.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 8
[Page 9]
1. Community Context
• Population
• Race/Ethnicity
• Households
• Historic Context
RDI
2. Direct Measures
Data Indicators
• Homeownership
• Housing Cost-Burden and Overcrowding
• Income
• Neighborhood Access
3. Indirect Measures
• Environmental Health Disparities
• Climate Vulnerability
• Educational Access
4. Exclusion
• Exclusionary Zoning
• Racially Restrictive Covenants
• Diversity Index
• Housing Choice Voucher
• Over or Under Representation of a Subgroup
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 9• Employment
[Page 10]
10
Historic Context:
Housing Exclusion
Redlining and restrictive covenants were
discriminatory practices that led to denying or
limiting ser vices to specific neighborhoods,
often because of racial or economic factors.
These historical practices have had long -lasting
impacts on neighborhoods, such as wealth
inequality due to barriers to homeownership
experienced by marginalized populations.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 10
[Page 11]
Trends in Homeownership by R ace, 1970 -2022
In Spokane County, homeownership for households of color has consistently been less than homeownership for White households and has
dropped since the 1970s. At every income level, White families are more likely to own homes than Black families in Spokane County—
even higher income earners.
NA
Source: University of Washington. Racial Restrictive Covenants Project. Homeownership by race 1970-2022 – Washington State. Retrieved May 5, 2025. Url: https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/homeownership.shtml
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 11
[Page 12]
Homeownership by R ace/Ethnicity & Tenure
Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity and Tenure, City of Spokane, 2023
All Households 57% 43% In 2023, BIPOC households in
the City of Spokane had a
White alone, Non-Hispanic 61% 39% homeownership rate of 42%
compared to 61% of White,
Black or African American alone 32% 68% Non-Hispanic households, a
gap of 19 percentage points.
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 47% 53% The gap between White, Non -
Hispanic households and Black
Asian alone 56% 44% households in Spokane was
close to 30 percentage points,
and close to 40 points for
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 20% 80% NHOPI households in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. American Community Survey, 2023: 5-Year Estimates, Table S2502
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 12
[Page 13]
13
Household Income by R ace/Ethnicity
In the City of Spokane, the median household income in 2023 was $65,745. The median household income was nearly a third less
for Black or African American, AIAN, and NHOPI households.
Median Household Income in Past 12 Months, City of Spokane, 2023
$80,000 $72,853
$70,000 $65,745 $66,959 $64,381
$60,000
$50,000 $49,587
$44,286 $44,732
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$-
All Households White Alone, Not Black or African American Indian Asian Alone Native HawaiianHispanic or Latino
Hispanic or Latino American Alone and Alaska Native and Other Pacific
Alone Islander Alone
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. (2023). Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2023 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars). American
Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Tables B19013, B19013A, B19013B, B19013C, B19013D, B19013E, B19013F, B19013H, B19013I
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 13
[Page 14]
Housing Cost-Burden by R ace/Ethnicity
Cost-Burdened by Race and Ethnicity, City of Spokane, 2023
60%
50% In the City of Spokane, 1 in 3
households are cost-
40% burdened.
30% Households of color have
52% higher cost-burdened rates
50% than White, Non- Hispanic
20% 43% 40% households. Over half of
33% 32%33% Black and NHOPI households
10% are cost-burdened.
0%
All White, Non-Black or AfricanAmericanAsian alone NativeHispanic or
Hispanic American Indian and Hawaiian and Latino origin
Alaska Native Other Pacific
Islander
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. American Community Survey, 2023: 5-Year Estimates, Table B25140
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 14
[Page 15]
Displacement Risk
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 15
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 16]
1. Existing Displacement
• Evictions
• Foreclosures
Displacement • Demolitions
Risk Data 2. Displacement Risk Indicators
Indicators • Rental affordability and availability
• Homeowner affordability
• Housing A ge
• Unpaid property taxes
• Access to ser vices
• New development and future development pressure
3. Displacement Risk Map
• Social Vulnerability Index
• Commerce Displacement Risk Map
• Additional indicators
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 16
[Page 17]
Evictions
Between Oct 2018 and April 2022
The highest concentration of evictions is
in the central and northeast
neighborhoods, especially those
directly north of I-90 or east of Division
Street.
Downtown, West Central, and Shiloh Hills
had the highest number of evictions
overall, while Shiloh Hills, Minnehaha, and
West Hills had the most individual
properties with the highest number of
evictions.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 17
Source: Staal, A., Zickefoose, G., Mutungi, D., Newton, T., Andrie, T., Deitz, S., Ramos, D., and
M. Anderson (2022) Displacement, Houselessness, and Gentrification in Spokane, WA:
Empirical Analysis of Housing, Eviction, and PIT Data.
[Page 18]
Demolitions
Between 2022 and 2024
A total of 154 residential units were lost to Units Demolished
demolitions between 2022 and 2024. None
East Central had the largest number of
demolitions with more than 15 units lost, 1
closely followed areas in Logan and West 2
Central.
3 - 6
> 7
City of Spokane DSC, 2022-2024
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 18
[Page 19]
New Residential Permits
Between 2022 and 2024
Since 2022, the City has permitted more new housing units each
year than the year before. The highest concentration of new housing
units permitted between 2022 and 2024 is in East Central, Shiloh
Hills, and Cliff-Cannon.
New Housing Units Permitted by Year
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
2022 2023 2024
City of Spokane, DSC and Land Capacity Analysis
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 19
[Page 20]
New Residential Permits
Spokane Housing Units by Year Built
2020 - 2039
2000 - 2019
1980 - 1999
1960 - 1979
1940 - 1959
1920 - 1939
1900 - 1919
Pre 1900
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
* Permits from 2020 – 2024 shown. Permitted units through 2040 projected based on 1,000 units a year, more conservative than current permitting.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 20City of Spokane, DSC and Land Capacity Analysis
[Page 21]
Displace Risk Social
Map Methodology Vulnerability Index
1. Updated Social Vulnerability Index, 2022
2. Commerce Statewide Displacement Risk Map
3. Additional factors including concentration of existing
displacement, affordability, housing quality Displacement
Risk Additional
Fac tors
Commerce
Displacement Risk
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 21
[Page 22]
Displacement
Risk Map, 2025
All indicators point toward a higher
displacement risk in central and
northeast Spokane.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 22
[Page 23]
Policy Evaluation
Review goals, policies and regulations to assess whether they contribute to
impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 23
[Page 24]
Example Supportive Strategies
Spokane Housing • A1. Explore and expand allowed housing types to encourage missing
middle housing throughout Spokane’s neighborhoods.
• More housing types in currently zoned single-family residential areas
Action Plan • B3. Enhance protections and assistance for renters, particularly the
most vulnerable.
• Continue community discussions around a set of tenant protections policies.
• C1. Reduce barriers and expand access to housing and homeownership
for lower income households, first-time homebuyers, people of color,
and people with disabilities.
• Expand information provided in Spanish, Russian, Marshallese, Vietnamese,
Arabic, and other languages to help increase access to housing and community
development programs and resources.
• Support land use and development code regulations that allow diverse housing
types and support mixed-income communities.
• Support community-based organizations with a commitment to increasing Black,
Indigenous, Latinx and People of Color homeownership and reducing the racial
homeownership gap.
• C2. Address racial inequities and disparities in housing.
• Conduct an equity review and update the Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter if
needed.
• D3. Grow and expand use of both local and regional housing data and
analysis.
• Build partnerships to create a database or registry of affordable and accessible
housing. Monitor expiring affordability.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 24
[Page 25]
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 25
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 26]
Recent Policy and Regulation Changes
2022 Expanded zoning regulations to allow middle housing, such as duplexes, triplexes,
BOCA/BOH fourplexes, and townhomes, on any residentially zoned lot in the city and modified
Initiatives site standards to make their development more feasible.
2023 Removed language “Protecting the character of single -family neighborhoods”
Land Use
Amendments Changed single family to single unit to focus on housing type
2023 & 2024 Reduced lot size requirements and setbacks
Development Increased height
Code Changes
Removal of parking minimums
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 26
[Page 27]
Housing Policy Evaluation:
Questions for Consideration Supportive
• Is the policy effective in accommodating needed housing?
• Does the policy contribute to racially disparate impacts? Approaching
Displacement? Or exclusion in housing?
• Who benefits and who is burdened by the policy?
• Does the policy increase displacement risk? If so, can this be
mitigated through policies or actions? Challenging
• Does the policy provide vulnerable communities protection from
displacement?
• Does existing terminology encode bias, racially informed
presumptions or phrases that promote exclusion? Not
Applicable
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 27
[Page 28]
Example Housing Policies
Policy
H 1.5 Housing Information
Participate in and promote the development of educational resources and programs that assist low and moderate-income households in obtaining affordable and suitable housing.
Discussion
A lack of financial literacy or how to obtain housing and home financing is often an impediment to finding and maintaining suitable housing. A place such as a resource center where financing assistance is available and home purchasing techniques are taught can help households find suitable housing.
Policy Evaluation
Supportive
H 1.19 Senior Housing
Encourage and support accessible design and housing strategies that provide seniors the opportunity to remain within their neighborhoods as their housing needs change.
Discussion
Accessory dwelling units, condominiums, and existing home conversions within centers are examples of other arrangements that reduce maintenance worries and increase access to services.
Policy Evaluation
Approaching
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 28
[Page 29]
Next Steps
Next-step sequence
1. Review previous engagement.
2. Analyze data.
3. Evaluate policies.
4. Revise policies and integrate them into the Comprehensive Plan.
5. Review and update regulations.
Draft Report in early August
• Review data to hear perspectives on the policies, regulations, actions, or root causes driving disparities in outcomes.
• Engage impacted community members on existing policies for the distribution of benefits and burdens and identifying new goals and policies.
Reviewing and updating regulations is part of the Final Preferred Alternative.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 29
[Page 30]
Maren Murphy, Principal Planner
mmurphy@spokanecity.org
Racially Disparate Impacts in Housing
City of Spokane
PlanSpokane 2046
[Page 1]
RACIALLY DISPARATE IMPACTS
IN SPOKANE HOUSING
HB 1220 PL ANNING FOR AND ACCOMMODATING HOUSING NEEDS
PL AN COMMISSION | July 23, 2025
[Page 2]
Workshop:
• HB 1220 Racially Disparate Impacts Over view
• Racially Disparate Impacts Data Analysis
• Displacement Risk Analysis
• Policy Evaluation
• Next Steps
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 2
[Page 3]
In 2021, the Washington Legislature
changed planning for housing under GMA
to “plan for and accommodate” housing
affordable to all income levels.
HB 1220
Planning for sufficient Providing for more Targets for existing Identifying racially
land capacity for moderate density and projected disparate impacts,
housing needs housing options housing needs displacement, and
exclusion
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 3
[Page 4]
HB 1220:
Racially Disparate Impacts (RDI) in Housing
RCW 36.70A.070(2) state that jurisdictions must now adopt a housing
element that:
• (e) Identifies local policies and regulations that result in racially disparate
impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing, including:
• (i) Zoning that may have a discriminatory effect;
• (ii) Disinvestment; and
• (iii) Infrastructure availabilit y;
• (f) Identifies and implement policies and regulations to address and begin
to undo racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in
housing caused by local policies, plans, and actions;
• (g) Identifies areas that may be at higher risk of displacement from market
forces that occur with changes to zoning development regulations and
capital investments; and
• (h) Establishes anti-displacement policies
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 4
[Page 5]
Definitions
Racially disparate Exclusion in housing Displacement &
impacts Displacement Risk
• When policies, • The act or effect of • The process or
practices or other shutting or keeping likelihood that a
systems result in a certain populations household is forced
disproportionate out of housing within to move from its
impact on one or a certain area, community
more racial groups intentionally or
unintentionally, but
which leads to non-
inclusive impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 5
[Page 6]
RDI Process & Methodology
Review previous Analyze data Evaluate policies Revise policies and Review and update
engagement integrate into regulations
Comprehensive Plan
Part of Final
Preferred Alternative
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 6
[Page 7]
R acially Disparate Impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 7
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 8]
There is a persistent gap in homeownership rates for BIPOC households
compared to White households, with a higher disparity among Black or African
American households, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander households,
and American Indian and Alaska Native households.
Exclusionary zoning reinforced the impacts of redlining and racially restrictive
Major covenants, wherein redlined areas historically had a lower percentage of single
unit zoning in residential areas.
Themes
Neighborhood access, income disparities, and housing affordability vary by
ra c e, putting homeownership farther out of reach for BIPOC households, who have
limited access to neighborhoods and higher performing schools in parts of the city.
Environmental health disparities reflect systemic disparities of historic
disinvestment, exasperating disparate outcomes for overburdened communities,
including higher levels of exposure to environmental hazards and lower life
expectancy.
Higher displacement risk exists in central and northeast Spokane in areas that
have higher proportions of BIPOC and lower income households, with higher
eviction and demolition rates and changing market factors for redevelopment.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 8
[Page 9]
1. Community Context
• Population
• Race/Ethnicity
• Households
• Historic Context
RDI
2. Direct Measures
Data Indicators
• Homeownership
• Housing Cost-Burden and Overcrowding
• Income
• Neighborhood Access
3. Indirect Measures
• Environmental Health Disparities
• Climate Vulnerability
• Educational Access
4. Exclusion
• Exclusionary Zoning
• Racially Restrictive Covenants
• Diversity Index
• Housing Choice Voucher
• Over or Under Representation of a Subgroup
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 9• Employment
[Page 10]
10
Historic Context:
Housing Exclusion
Redlining and restrictive covenants were
discriminatory practices that led to denying or
limiting ser vices to specific neighborhoods,
often because of racial or economic factors.
These historical practices have had long -lasting
impacts on neighborhoods, such as wealth
inequality due to barriers to homeownership
experienced by marginalized populations.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 10
[Page 11]
Trends in Homeownership by R ace, 1970 -2022
In Spokane County, homeownership for households of color has consistently been less than homeownership for White households and has
dropped since the 1970s. At every income level, White families are more likely to own homes than Black families in Spokane County—
even higher income earners.
NA
Source: University of Washington. Racial Restrictive Covenants Project. Homeownership by race 1970-2022 – Washington State. Retrieved May 5, 2025. Url: https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/homeownership.shtml
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 11
[Page 12]
Homeownership by R ace/Ethnicity & Tenure
Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity and Tenure, City of Spokane, 2023
All Households 57% 43% In 2023, BIPOC households in
the City of Spokane had a
White alone, Non-Hispanic 61% 39% homeownership rate of 42%
compared to 61% of White,
Black or African American alone 32% 68% Non-Hispanic households, a
gap of 19 percentage points.
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 47% 53% The gap between White, Non -
Hispanic households and Black
Asian alone 56% 44% households in Spokane was
close to 30 percentage points,
and close to 40 points for
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 20% 80% NHOPI households in 2023.
Hispanic or Latino origin 40% 60%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. American Community Survey, 2023: 5-Year Estimates, Table S2502
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 12
[Page 13]
13
Household Income by R ace/Ethnicity
In the City of Spokane, the median household income in 2023 was $65,745. The median household income was nearly a third less
for Black or African American, AIAN, and NHOPI households.
Median Household Income in Past 12 Months, City of Spokane, 2023
$80,000 $72,853
$70,000 $65,745 $66,959 $64,381
$60,000
$50,000 $49,587
$44,286 $44,732
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$-
All Households White Alone, Not Black or African American Indian Asian Alone Native HawaiianHispanic or Latino
Hispanic or Latino American Alone and Alaska Native and Other Pacific
Alone Islander Alone
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. (2023). Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2023 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars). American
Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Tables B19013, B19013A, B19013B, B19013C, B19013D, B19013E, B19013F, B19013H, B19013I
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 13
[Page 14]
Housing Cost-Burden by R ace/Ethnicity
Cost-Burdened by Race and Ethnicity, City of Spokane, 2023
60%
50% In the City of Spokane, 1 in 3
households are cost-
40% burdened.
30% Households of color have
52% higher cost-burdened rates
50% than White, Non- Hispanic
20% 43% 40% households. Over half of
33% 32%33% Black and NHOPI households
10% are cost-burdened.
0%
All White, Non-Black or AfricanAmericanAsian alone NativeHispanic or
Hispanic American Indian and Hawaiian and Latino origin
Alaska Native Other Pacific
Islander
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. American Community Survey, 2023: 5-Year Estimates, Table B25140
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 14
[Page 15]
Displacement Risk
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 15
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 16]
1. Existing Displacement
• Evictions
• Foreclosures
Displacement • Demolitions
Risk Data 2. Displacement Risk Indicators
Indicators • Rental affordability and availability
• Homeowner affordability
• Housing A ge
• Unpaid property taxes
• Access to ser vices
• New development and future development pressure
3. Displacement Risk Map
• Social Vulnerability Index
• Commerce Displacement Risk Map
• Additional indicators
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 16
[Page 17]
Evictions
Between Oct 2018 and April 2022
The highest concentration of evictions is
in the central and northeast
neighborhoods, especially those
directly north of I-90 or east of Division
Street.
Downtown, West Central, and Shiloh Hills
had the highest number of evictions
overall, while Shiloh Hills, Minnehaha, and
West Hills had the most individual
properties with the highest number of
evictions.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 17
Source: Staal, A., Zickefoose, G., Mutungi, D., Newton, T., Andrie, T., Deitz, S., Ramos, D., and
M. Anderson (2022) Displacement, Houselessness, and Gentrification in Spokane, WA:
Empirical Analysis of Housing, Eviction, and PIT Data.
[Page 18]
Demolitions
Between 2022 and 2024
A total of 154 residential units were lost to Units Demolished
demolitions between 2022 and 2024. None
East Central had the largest number of
demolitions with more than 15 units lost, 1
closely followed areas in Logan and West 2
Central.
3 - 6
> 7
City of Spokane DSC, 2022-2024
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 18
[Page 19]
New Residential Permits
Between 2022 and 2024
Since 2022, the City has permitted more new housing units each
year than the year before. The highest concentration of new housing
units permitted between 2022 and 2024 is in East Central, Shiloh
Hills, and Cliff-Cannon.
New Housing Units Permitted by Year
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
2022 2023 2024
City of Spokane, DSC and Land Capacity Analysis
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 19
[Page 20]
New Residential Permits
Spokane Housing Units by Year Built
2020 - 2039
2000 - 2019
1980 - 1999
1960 - 1979
1940 - 1959
1920 - 1939
1900 - 1919
Pre 1900
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
* Permits from 2020 – 2024 shown. Permitted units through 2040 projected based on 1,000 units a year, more conservative than current permitting.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 20City of Spokane, DSC and Land Capacity Analysis
[Page 21]
Displace Risk Social
Map Methodology Vulnerability Index
1. Updated Social Vulnerability Index, 2022
2. Commerce Statewide Displacement Risk Map
3. Additional factors including concentration of existing
displacement, affordability, housing quality Displacement
Risk Additional
Fac tors
Commerce
Displacement Risk
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 21
[Page 22]
Displacement
Risk Map, 2025
All indicators point toward a higher
displacement risk in central and
northeast Spokane.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 22
[Page 23]
Policy Evaluation
Review goals, policies and regulations to assess whether they contribute to
impacts
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 23
[Page 24]
Example Supportive Strategies
Spokane Housing • A1. Explore and expand allowed housing types to encourage missing
middle housing throughout Spokane’s neighborhoods.
• More housing types in currently zoned single-family residential areas
Action Plan • B3. Enhance protections and assistance for renters, particularly the
most vulnerable.
• Continue community discussions around a set of tenant protections policies.
• C1. Reduce barriers and expand access to housing and homeownership
for lower income households, first-time homebuyers, people of color,
and people with disabilities.
• Expand information provided in Spanish, Russian, Marshallese, Vietnamese,
Arabic, and other languages to help increase access to housing and community
development programs and resources.
• Support land use and development code regulations that allow diverse housing
types and support mixed-income communities.
• Support community-based organizations with a commitment to increasing Black,
Indigenous, Latinx and People of Color homeownership and reducing the racial
homeownership gap.
• C2. Address racial inequities and disparities in housing.
• Conduct an equity review and update the Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter if
needed.
• D3. Grow and expand use of both local and regional housing data and
analysis.
• Build partnerships to create a database or registry of affordable and accessible
housing. Monitor expiring affordability.
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 24
[Page 25]
Plan Commission Workshop | July 23, 2025 25
[Image-based page. View this page in the slide viewer.]
[Page 26]
Recent Policy and Regulation Changes
2022 Expanded zoning regulations to allow middle housing, such as duplexes, triplexes,
BOCA/BOH fourplexes, and townhomes, on any residentially zoned lot in the city and modified
Initiatives site standards to make their development more feasible.
2023 Removed language “Protecting the character of single -family neighborhoods”
Land Use
Amendments Changed single family to single unit to focus on housing type
2023 & 2024 Reduced lot size requirements and setbacks
Development Increased height
Code Changes
Removal of parking minimums
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Housing Policy Evaluation:
Questions for Consideration Supportive
• Is the policy effective in accommodating needed housing?
• Does the policy contribute to racially disparate impacts? Approaching
Displacement? Or exclusion in housing?
• Who benefits and who is burdened by the policy?
• Does the policy increase displacement risk? If so, can this be
mitigated through policies or actions? Challenging
• Does the policy provide vulnerable communities protection from
displacement?
• Does existing terminology encode bias, racially informed
presumptions or phrases that promote exclusion? Not
Applicable
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Example Housing Policies
Policy
H 1.5 Housing Information
Participate in and promote the development of educational resources and programs that assist low and moderate-income households in obtaining affordable and suitable housing.
Discussion
A lack of financial literacy or how to obtain housing and home financing is often an impediment to finding and maintaining suitable housing. A place such as a resource center where financing assistance is available and home purchasing techniques are taught can help households find suitable housing.
Policy Evaluation
Supportive
H 1.19 Senior Housing
Encourage and support accessible design and housing strategies that provide seniors the opportunity to remain within their neighborhoods as their housing needs change.
Discussion
Accessory dwelling units, condominiums, and existing home conversions within centers are examples of other arrangements that reduce maintenance worries and increase access to services.
Policy Evaluation
Approaching
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Next Steps
Next-step sequence
1. Review previous engagement.
2. Analyze data.
3. Evaluate policies.
4. Revise policies and integrate them into the Comprehensive Plan.
5. Review and update regulations.
Draft Report in early August
• Review data to hear perspectives on the policies, regulations, actions, or root causes driving disparities in outcomes.
• Engage impacted community members on existing policies for the distribution of benefits and burdens and identifying new goals and policies.
Reviewing and updating regulations is part of the Final Preferred Alternative.
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Maren Murphy, Principal Planner
mmurphy@spokanecity.org
Join the conversation at PlanSpokane.org!
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