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Des Moines City Council Adopts Revised Housing Strategy to Boost Affordable Housing

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Des Moines City Council is expected to approve a revised citywide housing strategy on Monday, significantly departing from a previous plan that could have indefinitely halted new low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) projects. The controversy surrounding the initial proposal has sparked heated debates among developers and housing advocates, with concerns that it could create additional hurdles in the city's efforts to increase affordable housing. The revised strategy, developed through extensive public input and the assistance of CZB, a Maine-based urban planning firm, aims to tackle housing affordability and includes goals for rental preservation, new construction, and homeownership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The revised plan will evaluate future LIHTC projects using broader criteria, including design and the potential for excessive concentration of poverty.
  • The city aims to achieve regional equity in subsidized housing by collaborating with other jurisdictions.
  • The revised strategy includes support for Community Land Trusts, which enable affordable housing units to be resold at restricted prices to other low-income buyers.
  • The city's first home in the Community Land Trust program is expected to hit the market later this year.
  • The revised plan recognizes the community benefits of LIHTCs, which are one of the country's most common tools for creating affordable housing.
  • Developers and housing advocates have expressed gratitude for the changes in the revised plan, with former state Sen. Jack Hatch praising the city's openness to all housing financing strategies.

Statistics:

  • 25: The number of pages in the revision document (https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2025/25-273.pdf)
  • Late 2025: The expected release of the city's first home in the Community Land Trust program.

Sources:

  • Axios, "Des Moines LIHTC Des Moines Housing Strategy, Low-Income Iowa", May 21, 2025 (https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/05/21/lihtc-des-moines-housing-low-income-iowa)
  • Axios, "Redline Des Moines Housing Strategy, Low-Income", June 23, 2025 (https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/06/23/redline-des-moines-housing-strategy-low-income)
  • Axios, "Affordable Forever Homes, Iowa Community Land Trust", October 19, 2023 (https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2023/10/19/affordable-forever-homes-iowa-community-land-trust)
  • Council Docs, Des Moines, IA, "Revision Document 25-273", May 25, 2025 (https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2025/25-273.pdf)

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