Anchorage Housing Gridlock and Density Discussion

For many in Anchorage, the reality of homeownership is out of reach. According to a recent presentation from the Housing Subgroup of the Live.Work.Play initiative, Anchorage is the 19^th most expensive city in the US and 21^st most expensive when it comes to housing. The lack of affordable housing is not just a concern for individuals, but also for businesses trying to hire new employees from out of state. The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) conducted a survey of Anchorage employers to determine the biggest concerns of employers and employees in the Municipality. The number one concern of employers was being able to attract and retain good employees and a large part of that was being able to have housing for their employees. Companies have had individuals turn down jobs in Anchorage because of the lack of affordable housing. There is a lack of selection and of quality, especially in rental properties. Many potential employees cite that it is too difficult to move to a new, high cost area with the uncertainty of a new job and without affordable housing.

Many issues have created the housing gridlock being seen in Anchorage. Available land for new developments, the cost of construction/renovation, and the difficulty of navigating the permitting process have all lead to the housing crunch. A solution to this issue is to reconsider housing density.  There are many ways to create more dense housing in Anchorage without building skyscrapers that house hundreds of residents. Density is an important concept that helps maximize the value and utility of land.

At a discussion hosted by Housing Anchorage, attendees wrestled with the best way to consider approaching the subject of density in Anchorage. Many noted that perceptions and misconceptions about density would need to be changed before moving forward to find a solution. Everyone agreed that it would be helpful to have a successful example of more dense housing in Anchorage to use as an example in moving forward. Creating higher density housing would break up some of the gridlock being seen and allow for more flexibility in the housing market. A representative from the Municipality’s Planning Department noted that the department was going to target certain areas of the Municipality for higher density projects. A shift to higher density would only be made in areas where it was appropriate and it would be strategic.

Discussions regarding housing in Anchorage are continuing and include a variety of subjects and potential solutions. For more information, visit www.aedcweb.com.