Examining Five Common Criticisms of Mixed-Income Housing Development Found in the Real Estate, Public Policy, and Urban Planning Literatures

Abstract

Where the federal government has increasingly relinquished control of affordable housing creation, local governments have frequently turned to public-private partnerships to fund mixed-income housing projects. We describe the primary rationales for implementing mixed-income housing development strategies. We also identify distinct types of criticism from the real estate, public policy, and urban planning literatures. In addition, we describe the best practices that have emerged to help these projects promote neighborhood revitalization and serve the interests of low-to-moderate income families. We provide new insights about the factors to consider when evaluating the merits of proposed mixed-income housing policies and developments.